Bible Encyclopedias
Thyrsus

1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

Search for…

Enter query below:

or

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Prev Entry
Thyrostraca

Next Entry
Thysanoptera

Resource Toolbox

Print Article

Additional Links

Dictionaries
Webster Dictionary
• Thyrsus
Encyclopedias
1911 Encyclopedia Britannica
• Thyrsus
The Nuttall Encyclopedia
• Thyrsus
The Catholic Encyclopedia
• Thyrsus González de Santalla

(the latinized form of Gr. Bupaos, a stem or stalk) the wand or staff of Dionysus (Bacchus), the Bacchants and Maenads and the votaries taking part in his orgiastic rites. As commonly represented on the monuments it was a straight staff terminating in a pine cone, a ribbon or fillet being attached to the head below it. Another form terminated in a bunch of grapes and vine leaves, or ivy-berries and leaves. The pinecone or bunch of leaves was sometimes supposed to cover the head of a spear, and the thyrsus was termed Oupo-Ac yxos (see Dionysus and Mystery) .