Roman Carnelian Intaglio of Dionysos

Roman Carnelian Intaglio of Dionysos

An ancient Roman carnelian gem carved with an intaglio image of Dionysos (Roman equivalent: Bacchus), the god of wine, agriculture, and fertility, standing next to a column.

Ca. 2nd - 3rd century AD.
Dimensions: 10 x 12 x 3 mm.

Dionysos (Latin: Bacchus or Liber) was the god of wine. Consequently he was seen as the personification of the life force of the vine and vegetation and the earth's fertiltiy. He was a volatile god whose rites were celebrated in an ecstatic and orgiastic fashion. His female devotees were the Maenads (Bacchantes) and their drunken and lascivious male counterparts were the Satyrs (Fauns). Drunken old Silenos was also a member of his retinue. No where in ancient literature is the passion and fury of Dionysos better articulated than in Euripides tragedy, "The Bacchantes," (ca. 406 BC). Where Dionysos and the women of Thebes exact a terrible revenge on young prince Pentheus for his failure to pay homage to the god.

cf.:British Museum, London, museum no. 1814,0704.1355.

Formerly in the M. C. collection, London; subsequently in the R. T. collection, London, 1970s.

Inv#: 7765

$1,250



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