Faun With Infact Bacchus at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

This stunning marble sculpture depicts a lively Faun dancing with the infant Bacchus, also known as Dionysus. As the god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine in Greek mythology, Dionysus is revered for his association with ritual madness, fertility, theatre and ecstatic worship. In ancient Greece, alcohol, particularly wine, played a pivotal role in culture, largely thanks to Dionysus's influence. His name, transcribed as di-wo-nu-so on Linear B tablets, hints that he may have been worshipped as far back as 1500–1100 BC by the Mycenaean Greeks. Traces of the Dionysian cult have also been found in ancient Minoan Crete. Despite his uncertain origins, Dionysus's cults took many forms, with some sources describing them as Thracian and others as Greek. In various accounts, he is said to arrive from the east or Ethiopia, emphasizing his status as a god of epiphany - "the god that comes". His foreignness may be an essential aspect of his cults. As a prominent figure in both Greek mythology and religion, Dionysus is included in lists of the twelve Olympians. He was the last to join Mt. Olympus, being the youngest and only one with a mortal mother. The fervor surrounding his festivals drove the development of Greek theatre. Notably, he exemplifies the concept of a dying god. This remarkable sculpture is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative by MyMiniFactory that creates a digital repository of fully 3D printable sculptures and artworks from across the globe for public access. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate.