Antiquities

Antiquities

Relief with the Indian Triumph of Bacchus

Depicted on the relief is the Indian triumph of Bacchus (Dionysos to the Greeks). The procession is led by figures riding an elephant and a camel. They trample over the bodies of fallen opponents. At the left, standing frontally, Bacchus, grasps the head (as restored) of an opponent. Below this figure a feline (leopard or lion?) attacks another fallen figure. The piece was heavily restored by Lambert-Sigisbert Adam (1700-1759) in the mid-18th century and the heads of most of the figures and many of their limbs were added. There are moldings above and below the relief; the piece may have been part of a base or some other architectural element.