Red-Figure Bell-Krater (Mixing Vessel): Bust of Dionysos and Comic Actors (A); Dionysos, Satyr, Maenad (B)

The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Red-Figure Bell-Krater (Mixing Vessel): Bust of Dionysos and Comic Actors (A); Dionysos, Satyr, Maenad (B) as ceramic (South Italian, Apulian · c. 390–380 BCE).

WHY IT’S INTERESTING

The large bust of Dionysos may represent a stage prop or symbolize the multifaceted god.

SERENDIPITYA little unexpected

FamiliarWeird

A CLOSER LOOK

The museum identifies this ceramic as ceramic and credits Choregos Painter (South Italian, Apulian, active c. 390–380 BCE).

The museum's collection notes: Dionysos, the god of wine, theater, and the mysteries, dominates both sides of this bell-krater, a vessel for mixing water and wine. On the front, he appears in bust form, wearing a fillet and laurel wreath. Over his shoulder and behind his head rests his thyrsos , sprouting grapevines. Comic actors, identifiable by their masks and padded costumes, flank the colossal bust, stretching for a bunch of grapes on the left and holding a large skyphos (wine cup) on the right. On the reverse, Dionysos marches in procession with his retinue, a satyr and maenad.

FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE

The Cleveland Museum of ArtRed-Figure Bell-Krater (Mixing Vessel): Bust of Dionysos and Comic Actors (A); Dionysos, Satyr, Maenad (B)

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