Maenad Tapestries

In Greek mythology, the maenads were female followers of Dionysus and the most significant members of the Thiasus, the god's retinue. Their name literally translates as "raving ones". Maenads were known as Bacchantes by the Romans. They are often portrayed in a state of ecstatic frenzy brought by a combination of dancing and intoxication. During these rites, they would carry a thyrsus, a long stick wrapped in ivy or vine leaves and tipped with a pine cone. They would weave ivy-wreaths around their heads and often handle or wear snakes.

In Greek mythology, maenads were the female followers and worshipers of Dionysus and the most significant members of its retinue. I created this design out of a 4th Century BC red figure Greek vase from Etruria.

Villa of Myteries ,dancing Menad.Digital elaboration and patchwork composition from antique Roman mosaics and paintings of Pompeii by Bulgan Lumini©

1st century painting of a maenad hiding in foliage, Pompeii, Italy

DANCING MAENAD HOLDING LIME BRANCH ,ANTIQUE ROMAN PAINTING WITH POMPEII MOSAICS PATCHWORK

Don't be possessed by Grim the ROTN Maenad!

FIGS*! *(The type of figs prevalent around the Mediterranean and Middle East, not the kind of figs in south and east asia, I’ll get to those another time hopefully) Now considered a symbol of the womb, figs have been cultivated since the VERY OLD TIMES. Fig leaves were iconically worn by Adam and Eve, who in some non western translations of the Bible, ate the forbidden FIGS, not apples. Figs are also from heaven, according to the Quran. Long before that, fig wood was used by the ancient Egyptians for mummy ‘coffins’, while the fruit was a symbol of the Earth goddess Hathor. In ancient greece, figs were a major symbol of the wine god Dionysus, and he and his followers wore wreaths made of fig leaves. Dionysus, who was als...

Digital remaster of the 1894 painting by the French artist William Bouguereau. The painting features a Bacchante; priestess of Dionysus; Greek God of joy and wine.

DANCING MAENAD WITH CYMBALS ,ANTIQUE ROMAN PAINTING WITH POMPEII MOSAICS PATCHWORK

2 Roman women are dancing. One of them holds a tambourine. Inspired by a painting on a wall of the house of Diomedes on the road from Pompeii to Herculaneum

I design this one inspired by a Loutrophoros : 4th century BC Greek funeral vase from Apulia in Italy.

A young Dyonisos rides his panther, Silenus and a Maenad are dancing and playing music for him.. DEsign after a 5th century BC Greek vase.

A roman dancer from a wall painting of the Villa of Diomedes in Pompeii, Italy

Beautiful Creature

Pompeii wall paintings Diana and Flora with Dancing Menad from Villa of Myteries ,.Digital composition from antique Roman mosaics and paintings of Pompeii by Bulgan Lumini©

A roman dancer from a 1st century wall painting in of the Villa of Diomedes in Pompeii, Italy

A wall painting from the Villa of Diomedes, an ancient Roman villa located outside the walls of Pompeii on the Via dei Sepolcri to Herculaneum. This drawing was done when the Villa was excavated between 1771 and 1774. The original has been poorly preserved.

Dyonisiac celebration from the Louvre K240 red figure Greek vase, ca 370 BC. A Maenad and a youg eros open, playing the aulos, a young Dyonisos rides his panther behind them and his adoptive father Silenus closes the procession.