Bacchante with Tambourine and Child at The Louvre, Paris

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This marble sculpture was commissioned by Marc-René d'Argenson, the Marquis of Voyer, a governor of Vincennes with a passion for art. Augustin Pajou sculpted it in 1730. In ancient Greece, Maenads were women who followed Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy. They were known as "raving ones" and would dress in animal skins, carry sticks wrapped in leaves, and wear snakes. These frenzied women would dance through the night, performing strange rituals in the mountains. In Euripides' play, The Bacchae, Maenads from Thebes killed King Pentheus after he banned the worship of Dionysus. His cousin, Dionysus, lured him to the woods where the Maenads tore him apart. His mother, Agave, then mutilated his corpse thinking it was a lion's head. A group of Maenads also murdered Orpheus. This sculpture is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative by MyMiniFactory that creates a digital archive of 3D printable artworks and landmarks worldwide. We invite you to contribute by emailing stw@myminifactory.com, sharing your unique items with the public for free.