Bell Krater with Dionysiac Scenes

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.For the latest information about this object, Bell Krater with Dionysiac Scenes, visit the Online Collection of the Walters Art Museum.