Gr. Antiq. [L. thiasus, a. Gr. θίασος the Bacchic dance.] A company assembled to celebrate the festival of one of the gods (esp. of Bacchus) with dancing and singing. So Thiasarch [ad. Gr. θιασάρχης], the leader of the thiasus; Thiasite, Thiasote [ad. Gr. θιασίτης, θιασώτης], a member of the thiasus.
1781. Jodrell, Illustr. Euripides, II. 295. These [Votaries of the Deity] were a Band of frantick Revellers, denominated by a word, consecrated to that purpose, the Thiasus, or union of Persons devoted to Bacchus.
1820. W. Tooke, trans. Lucian, I. 569, note. The president of it was styled a thiasarch.
1850. Leitch, trans. C. O. Müller’s Anc. Art, § 390 (ed. 2), 507. Representations of Dionysus and his thiasotes … were got up. Ibid., § 367. 460. Dionysus bringing back Hephæstus in the thiasus (at which are also Marsyas and Comœdia).
1873. Contemp. Rev., XXI. 563. The ‘eranists’ are termed ‘thiasotes’ or ‘thiasites.’
