thyrsus

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

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.

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

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.

Sometimes the thyrsus is replaced by ivy leaves, which, like the fig, are symbolic of the triple creator.