What is maenads?

Maenads were female followers of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, fertility, and ritual madness. In mythology, they were known for their ecstatic and frenzied behavior, often engaging in wild celebrations, music, and dance in the wilderness. Clad in fawn skins and often depicted with thyrsi (staffs topped with pine cones), maenads symbolized the uninhibited aspects of nature and the human psyche. Their rituals were central to the Dionysian cult, embodying themes of liberation and transformation.