Two-sided relief

myminifactory

This stunning decorative marble relief originates from a beautiful Roman house or villa's peristyle garden. On one side, expertly carved masks of a vibrant young maenad and a bearded Silenus are prominently displayed in high relief. A traditional shepherd's crook, known as a pedum in ancient times, and two gleaming cymbals rest between these dynamic figures. Ancient Dionysiac cult objects and theatrical masks frequently adorn similar marble ornaments discovered in Pompeii, where they were typically suspended between the columns of the peristyle or placed on tall pillars around the garden. Other captivating themes are also depicted; on the opposite side of this piece, a majestic ketos, or sea monster, rises above the waves in low relief.