The Roman House at Hopkins | The Art of Light

Krater with Two Panthers

By Michele Asuni

Accession Number: JHAM HT 885
Measurements: Length: 11 cm, Width: 7.8 cm, Height: 3.8 cm
Material: Ceramic
Culture/Date: Roman, 1st c. CE
Provenance: Pompeii, Italy

The discus decoration contains a krater (a type of vase commonly used for mixing wine) flanked by two panthers. The border of the discus presents a floral-vegetal decoration. A similar composition can be seen in this example from the British Museum (Lamp Q3106). The krater, the panther and the vegetal decoration (probably vines) were part of the imagery typical of the cult of Bacchus (the Greek Dionysus).