BACCHAE,
Priestesses of Bacchus, Mena∣des, Bassarides, or Thyades, the Ministers of the God Bacchus, who celebrate his Orgiae or Mysteries.
The Bacchae, which accompanyed the Troops of Bacchus, took their Name from the Hebrew Word, Baca, which signifies to lament and howl, for Lamentations, Cryings, and Howlings were very common in the Mysteries of Bacchus. They were also called Thyades from the Hebrew word Thaha, that is to say, to cry and run up and down. They are also named Mamallonides, from the Hebrew Me∣mallelar, i. e. Praters and Talkative-Persons.
These raving Women were clothed with Tygers and Panthers Skins, with their Hair all loose, throwing their Head backward. They were crowned with Ivy, carrying in their left Hand, a Thyrse, which was a Pine. Staff. Tacitus speaking of one of these Bac∣chae, says, Ipsa orine fluxo thyrsum quatiens, and Sidonius Apollinaris describing the Troops of Bacchus, makes mention of the Thyrse, Ti∣ger-skins, and Drums.
They went through the Mountains in the Company of Bacchus, crying out like mad Persons, and often repeating Evohe Bacchae, that is to say, let Bacchus live happily. (An Epithet, which was given him by Jupiter, when in the War with the Giants, Bacchus being transformed into a Lion, vented his Fury on them, and tore them in pieces.)