thyrsus

[ thur-suhs ]

noun

, plural thyr·si [thur, -sahy].

1. Botany. a thyrse.
2. Greek Antiquity. a staff tipped with a pine cone and sometimes twined with ivy and vine branches, borne by Dionysus and his votaries.

thyrsus

/ ˈθɜːsəs /

noun

1. Greek myth a staff, usually one tipped with a pine cone, borne by Dionysus (Bacchus) and his followers
2. a variant spelling of thyrse

Word History and Origins

Origin of thyrsus¹

1585–95; < Latin < Greek thýrsos Bacchic staff, stem of plant

Word History and Origins

Origin of thyrsus¹

C18: from Latin, from Greek thursos stalk

Example Sentences

Strands of ivy spiral magically around two stafflike rods, called thyrsi, on the entablature, but the leaves also overlap as they would in nature.

From New York Times

Bacchus is generally represented as a handsome youth, crowned with ivy or grape leaves and clusters, bearing the thyrsus, an ivy-circled wand, as scepter, and riding in a chariot drawn by panthers or leopards.

From Project Gutenberg

She used to be followed with many attendants, who had each a thyrsus with serpents twined round it.

From Project Gutenberg

In one hand he holds a thyrsus composed of grapes and vine leaves, and in the other a cup or vase, from which a serpent springs, to indicate poison.

From Project Gutenberg

The goddess in plate 8, is nude, and carries in her hand the tripliform arrow, emblem of the male triad, whilst in the other she bears a thyrsus, terminating in a pine or fir cone.

From Project Gutenberg