Attachments Depicting Busts of Silenoi
INV-1478Roman
Mid 1st century BCE-mid 1st century CE
late republicanrepublicanearly imperialimperial (roman)sculpturebronze
Date
Mid 1st century BCE-mid 1st century CE
Medium
Bronze, silver, and copper
Dimensions
1: 17.8 × 14.6 × 8.6 cm (7 × 5 3/4 × 3 3/8 in.); 2: 18.7 × 16.2 × 8.9 cm (7 3/8 × 6 3/8 × 4 1/2 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Katherine K. Adler Memorial Fund
Part human and part horse, silenoi (sing. silenos) were older satyrs who belonged to the entourage of Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, theater, and revelry. Each figure is made of two pieces that were cast separately and fastened together. Anchoring the lush wreaths that encircle their heads are short, thin struts of metal. The whites of their eyes and their teeth are silver, and their lips were once inlaid with copper, giving them a lifelike appearance. These magnificent silenoi once decorated the sides of the curved headboard of a couch used by guests at the lavish banquets enjoyed by members of high society.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
