Maenad

myminifactory

Maenad It's unusual for a maenad to be depicted without any snakes surrounding her. The artist made an exception in this case, making the statue quite original. We can also see that the right hand is missing, and it's unclear whether this was intentional or not. Who is being depicted? In Greek mythology, maenads were female followers of Dionysus and key members of the Thiasus, the god's retinue. Their name literally means "raving ones." Maenads were known as Bassarids or Bacchantes in Roman mythology after the equivalent Roman god, Bacchus, wore a bassaris or fox-skin. Often maenads were portrayed as inspired by Dionysus into an ecstatic frenzy through a combination of dancing and intoxication. During these rites, maenads would dress in fawn skins and carry a thyrsus, a long stick wrapped in ivy or vine leaves and tipped with a pine cone. They would weave ivy-wreaths around their heads or wear a bull helmet in honor of their god, and often handle or wear snakes. More about the artist The artist remains unknown.