Bacchante (Autumn)

Bacchus is the Graeco-Roman god of wine and festivity in classical mythology. The Romans called him Bacchus but adopted him from the Greek myth of Dionysus. Bacchus (or Dionysus) was associated with satyrs and his female followers were known as maenads.

This small bronze bust depicts a priestess of Bacchus, a Bacchante. She is wearing vine leaves in her hair which is symbolic of Bacchus.

You can read more about Bacchus and his role in the Victorian discourse of aestheticism and decadence on RAMM’s collection site.