This red figure amphora depicts a familiar scene of the god Dionysis with his ever-present maenads in a ritual procession. The figure of Dionysis is in the middle, with two of the maenads flanking him. The figures move along a ground line formed by a frieze of the meander pattern, and above the scene are young men, either practicing for war or competing in an athletic competition. Note the extremely narrow foot of this amphora. It would have been displayed in a tripod base for stability. The maenads have garlands of grape leaves in their hair, and carry snakes.
Dionysis with Maenads, by the Kleophrades Painter
Greek Red Figure Amphora, 500-490 BCE
