Band with Dancers and Animals

Description

Tapestry woven band with a purple, double scrolling vine with spaces filled with Dionysiac dancers, animals, and grape leaves on tendrils. Dancers inside each of the larger lobes strike different poses and hold different objects; most appear to be female with clearly visible breasts, round hips, and hair tied up. The lowest dancer holds a pair of upside-down thyrsi staffs, suggesting these are Dionysiac maenads. Another may hold wineskins and others vine garlands or scarves. The uppermost dancer might hold a pair of instruments (sistra?). Inside smaller vine lobes are unidentifiable mammals. Each smaller lobe sprouts two grape leaves. A reverse scallop border runs outside the band on each side, with small leaves or fruit baskets sitting in the curvatures. The point of each scallop is flared. Compare this border to that on Harvard’s 1931.35.6. The warps run perpendicular to the direction of the band. Strips of plain woven fabric survive on each side of the band.