Ariadne, Cl. 455 © GrandPalaisRmn / Thierry Ollivier

3D

Lion heads, Cl. 615, Cl. 616 © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Lion heads, Cl. 615, Cl. 616 © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Lion heads, Cl. 615, Cl. 616 © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Ariadne and lion heads

Description

On display - room 2

5th century - 6th century

Antiquity

Most likely a decorative element of a piece of furniture, this elephant ivory statuette made in Constantinople in the early 6th century was found in a tomb in the Rhine valley, with two lion heads in rock crystal.

Sculpted in haut-relief, it depicts Ariadne, a mythological figure associated with Bacchus, dressed in a soft and flowing tunic draped so as to reveal a breast. The eyes were once inlaid with glass beads.

Bacchus’ companion, crowned by two “cupids”, is flanked by two figures that often accompany here in representations of Dionysian processions: a satyr and a maenad playing cymbals.

From one artwork to another

Pillar of the Boatmen, stone of Jupiter, Cl. 18602 © GrandPalaisRmn / Jean-Gilles Berizzi

Pillar of the Boatmen

Between 14 and 37

Saint Landry Pillar, Musician, rose window and leaf motif, Cl. 18607 © GrandPalaisRmn / Michel Urtado

Saint-Landry Pillar

First half of the 2nd century