325-300 B.C. Naples, Museo Archeologico Nazionale
Inv. 82480
The vase is decorated with scenes from the theatrical and musical world. Note the papposilenus (elderly silene) dressed in a gown covered with white hairs.
APPROFONDIMENTI
The Silenes
Half man and half animal, these creatures represent the essence of wild life. They have the ears, hooves and tail of a horse. While satyrs, often confused with silenes, are young, the latter are old, and for this reason, wise. A silene is sometimes depicted as the preceptor of Dionysus, or as a member of his retinue, playing a musical instrument or drinking to excess.