Marble statue of Dionysos seated on a panther
1st–3rd century CE
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
Overall: 56 3/8 in. (143.2 cm) Storage (weight on standard pallett): 843lb. (382.4kg)
Classification
Stone Sculpture
Culture & Period
Roman · Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Frederick F. Thompson, 1903
Accession Number
03.12.7
Tags
Art Historical Context
Behold the majestic *Marble Statue of Dionysos Seated on a Panther*, a captivating Roman Imperial masterpiece from the 1st–3rd CE, now gracing the Greek and Roman Art department at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Carved from fine marble, this nearly life-sized sculpture (standing 56 3/8 inches tall and weighing over 800 pounds) depicts the god Dionysos—known to Romans as Bacchus—in a relaxed yet regal pose atop his mythical companion, a snarling panther. This iconic motif symbolizes Dionysos's wild, ecstatic domain over wine, revelry, theater, and the untamed forces of nature, evoking the vibr...