Tiresias and Cadmus are old men. Cadmus has given the throne to his grandson Pentheus. (Don't worry: Cadmus has another grandson, but he is too young to be chosen at this point in time.) Tiresias wants Cadmus to go with him to celebrate the rites of the new god (Dionysus). Since Tiresias is blind and the rites are on Mt. Cithaeron, it is more than a desire for company that prompts the aged seer, although Tiresias says the god will guide them.
Cadmus and Tiresias discuss theology and the suitability of the old for the rites.
Pentheus enters to say the women have run off to join an orgy thinly disguised as new religious rites. Pentheus doesn't believe the stranger (Dionysus in disguise) when he claims Dionysus is a god. Pentheus makes snide comments on the old men dressed like Bacchantes.
Stasimon 1 ("standing song" 370-433)
A stasimon is a choral ode sung after the parados.The chorus criticizes Pentheus for his impiety.
Tiresias chides Pentheus. Cadmus asks Pentheus to join them and says it is an honor to their family to have Semele the mother of a god and warns what happens to family members when they challenge the gods.
Pentheus is not swayed but wants the effeminate stranger caught so he can be stoned to death.
Tiresias, without using his prophetic arts, prophecies doom to the family.
