This rather large vessel known as a krater, meant for mixing wine and water together, depicts the marriage between Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete. The mythical nuptials took place on the Isle of Naxos, the largest of the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea. Eleven figures encircle the vessel, with attendants flanking the main couple in the center of the front of the vase. Dionysos, who wears an ivy wreath and carries the thyrsos (staff intertwined with ivy) and kantharos (cup to hold wine) in his left hand, leads the veiled bride in the ceremony. Attendants include Semele, mother of the groom, who holds torches in each hand and a female figure who could be Aphrodite, goddess of love, who holds the bride’s fillet (narrow strip of ribbon used as a headband) in her hand. Poseidon, god of the Sea is pictured on the far left holding his three-pronged trident.
