[256] tecta cuspide thyrsos: i.e. the vine-rod, or spear, the traditional sceptre and weapon of Bacchus. Its stroke inspired madness; cf. Hor. Carm. 2.19.5 euhoe, parce, Liber, parce, gravi metuende thyrso. It was also carried by his worshippers, as here, and was tipped with a pine cone or with a bunch of vine leaves ( Verg. A. 7.396 “pampineas gerunt hastas” ), or ivy leaves ( Prop. 4.3.35 “haec hederas legit in thyrsos” ). All forms of the thyrsus are seen in the frequent representations of Bacchic processions in ancient wall-paintings and bas-reliefs (cf. Rich Dict. Antiq. s.v.).
Catullus. Catullus. E. T. Merrill. Cambridge. Harvard University Press. 1893.
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