any affliction that causes great suffering
"that is his cross to bear"
"he bears his afflictions like a crown of thorns"
somewhat climbing bushy spurge of Madagascar having long woody spiny stems with few leaves and flowers with scarlet bracts
a mock crown made of thorn branches that Roman soldiers placed on Jesus before the Crucifixion
The crown made of a thorny plant that Christ was forced to wear before his Crucifixion, in mocking reference to his alleged status as ‘king of the Jews’, or a representation of this.