Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Textile Fragment with Satyr and Maenad
Not on view
A satyr and maenad embrace beneath an arcade, the positions of their feet suggestive of dancing. This fragment was originally part of a larger wall hanging, likely connecting to another section depicting Dionysus, the Greco-Roman god of wine and fertility. With its painterly tapestry weave and monumental scale, the textile is considered a masterpiece of Egyptian textile production. Classical imagery on early Byzantine textiles spoke more to the personal identity of the user than to their religious beliefs, often communicating ideals of social class and education. This monumental textile may have adorned the walls of a grand home or public space, expressing an atmosphere of conviviality.
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