Two Silver Vessels with Dionysiac Scenes from Thrace

Abstract

Two silver vessels from different periods, discovered in the lands of ancient Thrace are studied in this article. They were found several decades ago, but up to now they have only been mentioned in exhibition catalogues and short papers. The Borovo pitcher-rhyton is dated to 390–360 BC and belonged to the famous Odrysian King Kotys I. The upper frieze and lower friezes show Dionysiac scenes. The shape of the pitcher-rhyton and the iconography indicate that this vessel was made in some East Greek workshop located in Ionia. The Stara Zagora skyphos is dated to the mid-first century AD. The vessel shows masks of Dionysos and satyrs, together with other mystic Dionysian attributes. Some of them have deep symbolism connected with fertility, sacred marriage and death. This vessel was probably made in some Italian workshop.