Frieze with Dionysian subjects

myminifactory

This fragment forms part of an elaborate wall decoration crafted from intricately carved marble panels. A captivating musician centaur is sculpted on these panels, poised with a thyrsus and drum in hand, alongside a herm of Hercules - both Dionysiac subjects that cleverly evoke the spirit of wine through their very presence. The vibrant hue of the marble itself further reinforces this theme. Unfinished sections were expertly completed using an array of differently colored marbles carefully set into inlays. Additional pieces from the same frieze are proudly housed in the Vatican Museums, the Lansdowne collection, and a private collection. This magnificent artwork dates back to the Hadrianic period (117-138 AD).