Silenus, Dionysus' Mentor and Drunken Prophet

3D Model

330 CE - In the prosperous city of Antioch, images of the wine god Dionysus (Bacchus) and his entourage were commonly used in domestic contexts, reflecting wine-rich Roman banquets as well as the Antiochene preoccupation with luxury, partying, and pleasure. This image of Silenus–the tutor of Bacchus–is from an opulent villa in Daphne; it was once part of a larger floor pavement that included two other mosaics (check this feed out for the others). Silenus was a full-time drunk, part-time Bacchus mentor, and wine-induced prophet–that’s right, booze gave him access to mystical prophecy. The donkey-tailed satyr and black-out drunk practitioner was an odd choice to take care of Zeus’ son. Though these vividly colored images may look like paintings from a distance, they are actually made by setting small pieces of colored stone (tesserae) into mortar (also known as a mosaic). This naturalistic treatment of the human form reflects the influence of Hellenistic artistic tradition on Roman style.