Bell Krater with Dionysiac Scenes

<p>The wine-god Dionysus appears often on vases of this shape (called a bell krater), which held wine for drinking parties. He is usually shown as a bearded and majestic god. Here, Dionysus holds a thyrsus (a pole often twined with ivy and grapevines and topped with a pine cone) in one hand and a kantharos (a high-handled drinking cup) in the other. He turns his head to gaze at a maenad who follows, while a satyr playing the double flutes leads the procession. The maenad carries an oinochoe (a wine jug) and a lighted torch, indicating that the group's journey takes place at night.</p><p>For the latest information about this object, <cite><a href='https://purl.thewalters.org/art/48.74' rel='external'>Bell Krater with Dionysiac Scenes</a></cite>, visit the Online Collection of the Walters Art Museum.</p>