Dionysus, the god of wine and merriment, is
shown with his sacred animal the panther on one
side of this splendid vessel, which almost
certainly identifies it as a container for wine. On
the other side stands a naked youth, possibly
Herakles, the favorite hero of the classical world.
The Romans had a talent for enriching the merely
functional with artistic skill, turning the useful
into the beautiful as well. In the presence of this
stunning vessel we are transported to the heart
of a vanished culture, one that surrounded itself
with beauty.
- (PF.0067)
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