2nd-3rd century A.D. A bronze bust of the god Bacchus (Greek Dionysus,) the head modelled in the round turned slightly to his right, floral wreath nestled amidst his voluminous waves, semi-naturalistic facial features, muscular neck and chest, wearing an exomis pinned at the left shoulder; mounted on a custom-made display stand. Cf. Faider-Feytmans, G. (ed.), Les Antiquités ?gyptiennes, Grecques, ?trusques, Romaines et Gallo-Romaines du Musée de Mariemont, Bruxelles, 1952, pl.16, 20. 68 grams total, 58 mm (70 mm high including stand) (2 1/4 in. (2 3/4 in.)). German art market, 1990s. Mr A.H., a North American collector living in the UK. The cult of Bacchus appears to have originated in Asia Minor, or possibly Thrace, and it absorbed several similar cults from that region. The cult spread rapidly throughout Greece and was introduced into Southern Italy by Greek settlers. By the time the Romans adopted the cult it had become quite complex and had developed into one of the Mystery Cults. Relatively few details are known about the beliefs and rites of Bacchus as various elements of the religion were only revealed to initiates and kept a closely guarded secret, but we do know that a belief in the afterlife and salvation as well as resurrection were central to the cult and Bacchic imagery appears on many sarcophagi. This small bronze was probably a furniture applique, possibly attached to a fulcrum, an S-shaped couch attachment almost always made of metal which was fastened to the side of a wooden headboard to serve as an elbow-rest on a couch (kline).