Ancient Greek Art: Dionysus & Ariadne

Dionysus & Ariadne at a tragedy play | Greek vase, Athenian red figure volute krater

K12.11 DIONYSOS & ARIADNE

Museum Collection: Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Naples, Italy
Catalogue Number: Naples 3240
Beazley Archive Number: TBA
Ware: Attic Red Figure
Shape: Krater, volute
Painter: Name Vase of the Pronomos Painter
Date: ca 410 BC
Period: Classical

NOTE

This is a coloured drawing of the vase rather than a photographic representation.

ARTICLES

Dionysos, Satyroi

SUMMARY

Detail of Dionysos and Ariadne from a painting depicting the cast of a satyr play, performed in honour of the god. Dionysos reclines on a couch next to Ariadne and Thyone (his mother, not shown). Between the two woman is perched a winged Eros. Dionysos is represented as a pretty young man, with long wavy hair, and crowned with a wreath of ivy. He is urrounded by fruiting grape vines, and holds a thyrsos (pine-cone tipped staff) in his hand.