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The bearded, balding man is Silenus, the aged tutor and companion of Dionysos. The unarticulated arms, sagging skin, and rounded belly of an older mortal contrast with the god’s pose, traditionally used for youthful figures.
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Title: Silenus, the Tutor of Dionysos
Date: 4th–7th century
Geography: Made in Egypt
Culture: Byzantine
Medium: Bone
Dimensions: Overall: 4 3/16 x 1 3/4 x 3/4 in. (10.7 x 4.5 x 1.9 cm)
Classification: Ivories-Bone
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1907
Object Number: 07.228.44
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