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3.5 Bacchus and his associates

In total, 16 figurines have been identified as Bacchus, although not all of these are certain. Bacchus was the god of wine and drunkenness, but was also associated with ritual ecstasy, the theatre and the underworld. Bacchus is usually shown as a youthful, naked figure, although sometimes he is partially draped in a nebris, or fawnskin. His primary attribute is grapes, whether in bunches (62, 70 and 818) or in baskets (819). He may also wear a wreath of vine leaves in his hair (62, 183 and 382). Hand 1011, which holds a bunch of grapes, is likely to be from a Bacchic figure, if not Bacchus himself. Of some importance are the mould fragments depicting Bacchus from Gestingthorpe, Essex. These are the only figurine moulds to have been found in Britain thus far. Finally, a dancing figure from Haynford, Norfolk (422), was originally published as Cupid, but the pose and lack of wings led Hutchinson (1986, 207 Me-16) to suggest that it is in fact a Bacchic figure. Similar dancing figures, identified as satyrs, come from Norfolk (982) and Notts (1025).

The satyr, a human figure with the legs, tail, ears and horns of a goat, is associated with Bacchus, and four further examples have been found (100, 482, 763 and 764). While the majority are youthful figures, often in a dancing pose, Satyr 482 from London depicts a rather older Satyr with a pot belly. Also from London is seated figure 1063 holding a cup in his left hand and a wineskin in his right; although listed in the museum catalogue as Hercules, the cup and wineskin could indicate that this is a Bacchic figure.


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