In
Greek mythology,
maenads (; ) were the female followers of
Dionysus and the most significant members of the
Thiasus, the god's retinue. Their name literally translates as "raving ones." Maenads were known as
Bassarids,
Bacchae or
Bacchantes in
Roman mythology after the penchant of the equivalent Roman god,
Bacchus, to wear a or
fox-skin.