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Roman Bacchhante holding a thyrsus and a wine cup

Roman Bacchhante

Roman Bacchhante holding a thyrsus and a wine cup

"Thyrsus, a pole carried by Bacchus, and by Satyrs, Maenades, and others who engaged in Bacchic festivities and rites. It was sometimes terminated by the apple of the pine, or fir-cone, that tree being dedicated to Bacchus in consequence of the use of the turpentine which flowed from it, and also of its cones, in making wine. The monuments of ancient art, however, most commonly exhibit, instead of the pine-apple, a bunch of vine or ivy leaves, with grapes or berries, arranged into the form of a cone. The annexed cut shows the head of a thyrsus composed of the leaves and berries of the ivy, and surrounded by acanthus leaves. The fabulous history of Bacchus relates that he converted the thyrsi carried by himself and his followers into dangerous weapons, by concealing an iron point in the head of the leaves." &mdash Smith; 1873

Thyrsus

"Thyrsus, a pole carried by Bacchus, and by Satyrs, Maenades, and others who engaged in Bacchic festivities…