Drunken Dionysus between Satyrs and Maenads

myminifactory

This is an ancient marble relief of Dionysus surrounded by Satyrs and Maenads, showcasing the god's wild side. Dionysus was a pivotal figure in ancient Greek culture, revered for his association with wine, winemaking, grape cultivation, fertility, theatrical performances, and ecstatic rituals. His Roman counterpart, Bacchus, may have been worshipped as far back as 1500 BCE by the Mycenean Greeks. In Greek mythology, Maenads were a devoted group of female followers who formed the core of Dionysus's entourage, known as the Thiasus. Their name literally translates to "those who rave." Meanwhile, Satyrs embody the spirit of lustful and drunken woodland deities. Typically depicted in Greek art as men with equine features - horse ears and tail - they were sometimes represented in Roman art as horned, goat-like creatures.