Maenad at The Nye Carlsberg Glyptotek, Denmark

myminifactory

Made with Memento Beta. In ancient Greek mythology, maenads were the female followers of Dionysus and the core members of his retinue. Their name translates directly to "wildly enthusiastic ones." Maenads were also referred to as Bassarids, Bacchae or Bacchantes in Roman mythology, due to the Roman god Bacchus's fondness for wearing a fox skin. The maenads are often depicted as being driven by Dionysus into a state of ecstatic frenzy through a combination of energetic dancing and intoxication. During these rituals, the maenads would wear deerskin cloaks and carry a thyrsus, a long staff wrapped in ivy or vine leaves and topped with a pine cone. They would adorn their heads with ivy wreaths or don a bull helmet as an honor to their god, often handling or wearing snakes. This object is part of the "Scan The World" initiative. Scan the World is a non-profit project launched by MyMiniFactory, which aims to create a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from around the globe for public access at no cost. Scan the World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.