Terracotta skyphos (deep drinking cup) 399 BC

This terracotta skyphos, made by the Vine Tendril Group, presents a scene brimming with Dionysian revelry. Note the ubiquitous presence of vines, framing the cup, symbols of fertility, transformation, and ecstasy tied to the cult of Dionysus. The god himself is absent, but his essence permeates the actions of the figures—satyrs and maenads—in their unrestrained dance and revelry. Observe how the figures atop the trees are reaching out as if being struck by inspiration. We see similar motifs in depictions of Bacchantes in later Roman art, their frenzied dances a testament to the intoxicating power of Dionysus. Consider the maenad collapsed on the ground, limbs splayed. This gesture appears again and again throughout art history, capturing moments of surrender. It is the ultimate abandonment to the moment. These symbols invite us to explore how the human psyche engages with these timeless themes of intoxication and surrender, revealing a complex dance of cultural memory and emotional expression.