Asset number
795157001
Description
Silver dish; massive; beaded edge, ring foot on underside. Finely decorated in low relief and engraved line on the front. The subject matter alludes to the worship and mythology of Bacchus on land and in the sea. Central medallion depicts head of Neptune, with dolphins in his hair and a beard formed of seaweed fronds. The inner circle, bordered by scallop shells, consists of sea-nymphs riding mythical marine creatures, a sea-horse, a triton, a sea-stag and a ketos, a dragon-like sea-monster. The wide outer frieze features Bacchus, holding a bunch of grapes and a thyrsus and resting a foot on his panther. He presides over a celebration of music, dancing and drinking in his honour. The participants include the hero Hercules, overcome by the consumption of wine, the goat-legged god Pan, and various satyrs and maenads.
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