Item: Large 18.5″ French Empire Ormolu Clock Bronze Zeus & infant Bacchus circa 1800
Sold For: $3,051.00
Bids: 38
Date: Aug 01, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Description and Image By: queensantiques
This is a stunning French ormolu / gilt bronze Empire clock with 3-inch dial with Roman numerals and twin barrel movement with outside countwheel striking on a bell, silk suspension. The statue on this clock depicts characters from Greek mythology and based on our research (comparing photo#: 4 to 5), this is Zeus holding his infant son – Bacchus. Here a little bit of what we were able to find: “Dionysus, also known as Bacchus, Liber, or Lyaeus, is the god of wine. He is also perhaps the only Olympian still considered a god although he is half mortal. His mother, Semele, had an affair with Zeus. When she was killed by Zeus appearing to her in his true form, lightening, Zeus took the baby, and like Athena, came forth from Zeus’ body, only, Dionysus came from his thigh. This idea is probably associated with his wild reputation and his status as a god of fertility. He is known for making people, mostly girls give up their responsibilities and go crazy; that is certainly the power wine has over some people. He traveled all across the East with his followers of Maenads (wild girls), Satyrs (men with goat like features pictured with Dionysus as having tails), and the drunken fat man, Silenus.
There are a few stories in Greek myth about those who try to resist Dionysus (wine). Those who tried, were eventually driven mad, and unspeakable deeds. Among these unfortunates are Lycurgus, who in a state of madness prunes his son’s legs, and the Minyads, daughters of King Minyas, who rip apart and eat a child. Ripping apart small creatures is one of the customs of the Maenads who do it to release their inner beast. Also, in festivals dedicated to Dionysus, people paraded around with large phallic symbols (again, he is a fertility god) and ripped apart small creatures. The dolphin is associated with Dionysus as is ivy and vines.”