--- title: The Mildenhall Great Dish author: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/4973/the-mildenhall-great-dish/ format: machine-readable-alternate updated: 1970-01-01 --- # The Mildenhall Great Dish _Authored by [Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/OsamaSMAmin/)_ ## Image File [![The Mildenhall Great Dish](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/4973.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/4973.jpg) ## Image Caption The most famous object in the Mildenhall treasure is the large, highly decorated circular platter, usually known as the Great Dish, or as the [Neptune](https://www.worldhistory.org/Neptune/) or [Oceanus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Oceanus/) Dish. Bacchic imagery has a long history in [Greek](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/greek/) and [Roman art](https://www.worldhistory.org/Roman_Art/), and this example, on a magnificent [silver](https://www.worldhistory.org/Silver/) vessel measuring 60.5 centimetres in diameter and weighing 8,256 g, is one of the finest to survive from the late [Roman](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Roman/) period. The decoration, worked in low relief and engraved lines on the front surface of the silver, alludes to the worship and [mythology](https://www.worldhistory.org/mythology/) of [Bacchus](https://www.worldhistory.org/Bacchus/), on land and in the sea. The staring face in the centre is Oceanus, his beard formed of seaweeds fronds and with dolphins in is hair. The inner circle, bordered by scallop shells, consists of sea nymphs riding mythological marine creatures, a seahorse, a trion, a sea-stag, and a ketos, a dragon-like sea monster. The wider outer frieze features Bacchus himself, holding a bunch of grapes and a thyrsus (a staff-tipped with a pine-cone) and resting a foot on his panther, presiding over a celebration of [music](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/Music/), dancing and drinking in his honor. The participants include the hero [Hercules](https://www.worldhistory.org/hercules/), overcome by wine, the goat-legged [god](https://www.worldhistory.org/God/) [Pan](https://www.worldhistory.org/Pan/), and sundry satyrs and Maenads (female devotees). From West Row, Mildenhall, Suffolk, UK. 4th century CE. (The British Museum, London) #### Editorial Review This human-authored image has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication to ensure accuracy, reliability and adherence to academic standards in accordance with our [editorial policy](https://www.worldhistory.org/static/editorial-policy/). ## About the Author Associate Professor of Neurology and lover of the Cradle of Civilization, Mesopotamia. I'm very interested in Mesopotamian history and always try to take photos of archaeological sites and artifacts in museums, both in Iraq and around the world. - [Facebook Profile](https://www.facebook.com/MRCPian) - [Linkedin Profile](https://www.linkedin.com/in/osama-shukir-muhammed-amin/) ## Cite This Work ### APA Amin, O. S. M. (2016, April 20). The Mildenhall Great Dish. *World History Encyclopedia*. ### Chicago Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "The Mildenhall Great Dish." *World History Encyclopedia*, April 20, 2016. . ### MLA Amin, Osama Shukir Muhammed. "The Mildenhall Great Dish." *World History Encyclopedia*, 20 Apr 2016, . ## License & Copyright Submitted by [Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/OsamaSMAmin/ "User Page: Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin"), published on 20 April 2016. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Copyright](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright). You cannot use, copy, distribute, or modify this item without explicit permission from the author. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.