# Alcithoe and Her Sisters Transformed to Bats explained — Metamorphoses

> Chapter companion for Metamorphoses by Ovid.

## What happens

The daughters of Mineus, including Alcithoe, refuse to honor Bacchus and continue their weaving. As punishment, Bacchus causes ivy and vines to grow over their looms, the room shakes with supernatural terror, and the sisters are transformed into bats, losing their arms for wings and their voices for faint murmurs.

## Themes in this chapter

### Transformation and Metamorphosis

The sisters are physically transformed into bats as a direct punishment for their impiety.

### Divine Power and Human Folly

Bacchus demonstrates his divine power by punishing those who mock or refuse to honor him.

## Character check-ins

### Bacchus

The deity whose power punishes the impious sisters.

### Alcithoe

One of Mineus' daughters who refuses to worship Bacchus and is transformed into a bat.

## Key lines

> The impiety of Alcithoe and her sisters is punished by their transformation into the shape of bats by the power of Bacchus.

Alcithoe and her sisters are turned into bats by Bacchus as punishment for their disrespect.

_Opening summary of the transformation._

> Their arms were lost in pinions as they fled, And subtle films each slender limb o’erspread.

As they ran, their arms turned into wings and thin membranes covered their limbs.

_Description of the physical transformation into bats._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters/alcithoe-and-her-sisters-transformed-to-bats
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/metamorphoses_se/chapters