The Thyrsus is the personal blog of Markos Gage, exploring the Dionysian religion and general Hellenic and Mediterranean polytheism.
The Author of this Blog
Markos Gage, a devotee of Dionysos for over two decades, has a background in visual arts and writing. He worked as a professional artist creating Greek god icons and was a travelling pavement artist in Australia for over a decade. His art has been featured in documentaries, radio, TV, and magazines.
Recently, Markos has focused on freelance writing and pagan leadership, managing several Facebook pagan groups and seeking ordination in the Naós of Dionysus Eleuthereus (NoDE). He is also an amateur historian passionate about world religions and mysticism. Artistic expression remains central to his devotion, with his art and writing dedicated to these subjects as the Dionysian Artist known as ∆.
What is a Thyrsus?
The thyrsus is a magical wand and weapon associated with Dionysos and his followers, serving as one of his key symbols. In early depictions, it often appears as a simple ivy-wrapped stalk of flowering giant fennel (Ferula communis). However, later artwork portrays it with a distinctive tip, usually a ball of ivy or what appears to be a pinecone. Some debate exists over whether this tip was actually a pinecone or an artichoke. Regardless, it seems that any staff wrapped in ivy could be recognised as a thyrsus.
On Writing Style
I work for several publications that have different writing styles and naming conventions. I prefer to spell Dionysos with an O (which is the Greek to English spelling). However, some organisations prefer the style with a U, Dionysus (Latin to English spelling). My native English is Australian English, though I also publish in US English for US publications. As I may cross-share free-to-access articles, there may be an inconsistency in my writing style.
The Thyrsus 