ca. 4th]2nd century B.C.
Gold plated silver
H. 13.2 cm, Dia. 15.5 cm
The basic form of this vessel is a semi-circular torso with simple edges. This vessel form resembles the skyphos vessel of Greece, but is lacking the circular foot or handle. The outer surface of this vessel shows a scene which features various people. The base of the vessel is plated in gold and is decorated with an incised, eight-petal rosette.
The long-haired figure (a) seen on the side of the vessel is wearing a short, knee-length tunic and holds a torch in her right hand while her left arm is draped in a garment. She wears short boots. The bared right chest protrudes, and thus we can tell that the figure is female. She has attendant of a dog to the right, a woman naked in her torso, is seated and facing to the right, and grasps a small winged human (b). Figure c is thought to represent a bearded figure of Dionysus, seated on a lion skin and accompanied by a thyrsus. Figure (d) is to the right of c shows a seated female figure wearing a long chiton and with a child standing in front of her. Figure (e) is to the right of (d) and is a standing figure of a man facing forward, draped in a lion's skin, with the forelegs tied in a Hercules knot. Both of the figures arms hang down and are spread outward. Figure (f) is to the right of (e) and is a woman holding drapery in both extended arms, and she is nude to the thighs. She leans against the boulder behind her and she wears boots on her feat. Figure (g) is to the right of (f), and is a male figure lightly seated on a lion skin spread on the rock and is seen playing a pan flute. This vessel shows the eight-petalled rosette decorating the center of the base, surrounded by three bucranium (ox heads) which alternate with three shell designs. These images are hard to interpret, but the hints of a bucranium sacrifice make it highly likely that this vessel would have been used in a ritual setting.
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