#nonnus has lovely prose but he also hurt my feelings and I can't forgive that

[antigone-away]

I was actively searching for Nonnus' Dionysus criticism and this is so perfect. Nicaea's story in general is heart-rending, but the fact that she 1) has to give birth to her assailant's child and 2) take care of the child of the OTHER woman he attacked in the same manner is just... agony.

It's especially disturbing because this isn't an example of historical lit trivialising the effects of SA. Nonnus describes, in harrowing detail, how much the two women suffered afterwards. But despite their pain being acknowledged, their attacker feels no remorse, and they continue to be the ones most criticised by the other characters.

Thousands of years have passed and it honestly seems like little has changed.

i both love and hate nonnus. i dont know why he counts as a "classical source" when he's closer to medieval greece than he is to classical greece. hes from the 5th century common era. not before common era. hes literally from imperial rome... scholars love him and hate him. some people like him and some dont. most people do not. did you know that nonnus is the only source (that i could find) in which dionysus sexually assaults someone? yeah 💀 all him!