Dionysus and ten Maenads dance in a ring: underside decoration of a kylix
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Order PrintImage ID
1624653
Item data
Title
Dionysus and ten Maenads dance in a ring: underside decoration of a kylix
Collection
Wonders: Images of the Ancient World
Mythology -- Bacchus
Date / Origin
Date Issued: 1894
Library Location
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection
Subjects
Mythology
Dionysus (Greek deity)
Flute players
Deer
Altars
Thyrsus
Greeks -- Clothing & dress -- To 499
Idols
Bacchantes
Genres
Notes
Source Note: From Greek vase paintings. (London Unwin 1894) Harrison, Jane Ellen (1850-1928), Author.
Handwritten: "Maenads with thyrsi, one also carries a fawn, dance in a ring around the ancient wooden statue, or post, of Dionysus. He wears a necklace of dried figs and from his shoulders branch out ivy and vine branches and honeycombs threaded on by [sic] ivy sprays. Dionysus' altar is blood soaked. His acroterion is decorated with a seated figure of himself."
Physical Description
Line photoengravings
Extent: 39 x 40 cm
Foxing on image.
Abstract
A "maenad" was a female follower or priestess of Dionysus (Roman name Bacchus), the god of wine. A "thyrsus" (plural "thyrsi") is a staff decorated with a pine-cone like object at one end, carried by worshippers of Dionysus. The altar is splashed with the blood of small creatures (one celebrant carries a fawn) captured and torn to pieces by the god's disciples in their revels. An "acroterion" is a piece of something that comes to a point, in this case the decoration on the altar. Note that one worshipper carries a wine bowl while another plays a double flute ("aulos").
Identifiers
Universal Unique Identifier (UUID): ad8633f0-c5be-012f-6abb-58d385a7bc34
Rights
The New York Public Library believes that this item is in the public domain under the laws of the United States, but did not make a determination as to its copyright status under the copyright laws of other countries. This item may not be in the public domain under the laws of other countries. Though not required, if you want to credit us as the source, please use the following statement, "From The New York Public Library," and provide a link back to the item on our Digital Collections site. Doing so helps us track how our collection is used and helps justify freely releasing even more content in the future.
Type Of Resource
Date Issued
1894
Cite this item
MLA format
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Dionysus and ten Maenads dance in a ring: underside decoration of a kylix" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1894. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ad8633f0-c5be-012f-6abb-58d385a7bc34
APA format
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. (1894). Dionysus and ten Maenads dance in a ring: underside decoration of a kylix Retrieved from https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ad8633f0-c5be-012f-6abb-58d385a7bc34
Chicago/Turabian Format
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Dionysus and ten Maenads dance in a ring: underside decoration of a kylix" New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed November 12, 2025. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ad8633f0-c5be-012f-6abb-58d385a7bc34
Wikipedia citation
<ref name=NYPL>{{cite web | url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/ad8633f0-c5be-012f-6abb-58d385a7bc34 | title= (still image) Dionysus and ten Maenads dance in a ring: underside decoration of a kylix (1894) | author=Digital Collections, The New York Public Library | accessdate=November 12, 2025 | publisher=The New York Public Library, Astor, Lenox, and Tilden Foundations}}</ref>