Final answer:
The Maenads are mentioned in the context of ancient Dionysian worship and ritual celebrations, particularly within the Mysteries of Hecate on Aegina and Athenian Dionysiac groups like the IoBacchants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Maenads, associated with the Dionysiac Mysteries, are mentioned in the context of various ancient rites and stories. One mention of Maenads is related to the local Mysteries of Hecate on Aegina, where it's indicated that in the Roman period female maenadic groups had largely disappeared. Another context where Maenads are referred to is within Athens, where female Maenads and exclusively male Dionysiac groups like the Athenian IoBacchants are discussed, indicating the gender-specific roles in these religious celebrations.
Furthermore, the appearance of Maenads is tied to texts by authors such as Callimachus and Euphorion, linking Maenadic activities to early Hellenistic literature. Additionally, the Maenads are tied to the Dionysiac and Eleusinian Mysteries, with celebrations involving Maenads performing ecstatic dances, which are pivotal to the understanding of these ancient rites. Here, historical rituals, dramas and readings from sacred books would be interwoven with the participation of these Maenad followers of Dionysus.