Author:Anonymous

Category：Building and living space

Year：ca. 3rd century

Introduction：The art of mosaic can be traced ages back in human history. On the tablets spread with cement or lime are placed with tiny stones, glass or other materials. Mosaic is often applied to the decorations on floors, walls, or ceilings.

This piece of mosaic art was originally made for floor decoration, depicting Dionysus, the son of Zeus and Princess Semele of Thebes, and the attributes related to him. With the vine-crowned god of wine in the center, patterns extend symmetrically to the four sides with vines extending around, on which a number of birds perched. Two large wine chalices appear directly above and beneath Dionysus, indicating his wine making and drinking: the one above is surrounded by a tiger and a hog on either side, while the one beneath is encircled by a lion and a panther, all taken from the story of the marriage of Dionysus and Ariadne. The icon of the panther, in particular, often appears in rituals to worship the wine god.

On the left and right of Dionysus appears a man holding a rod, who is thought to be Sylvanus, a deity protecting forests. The Sylvanus on the left is accompanied by a goat and a stag, while the one on the right is by a lion and a horse. Goats often appear in pictures related to the wine god because Zeus once turned Dionysus into a goat to protect him from being killed by Hera and also because goats enjoy chewing grapevines.

Accession number:0005773

Place of Orgin：Unknown