3^4 Account of a Bacchanalian Vafe. 



being generated by heat and moifture, was felefted by the 

 antients as the fymbol of the generation and procreation of 

 the human fpecies; it was therefore deified and held facred, 

 and became the model from which, as it is thought, they 

 copied the form of their principal vafes. 



The grand Bacchanalian vafe in queftion (fee a geometrical 

 elevation of it, Plate X.) is of the lotus form, bell-fliaped, 

 and was mod probably confecrated to the god Bacchus, as 

 may be concluded from the finely-fculptured Bacchanalian 

 jnafks, and other features that accompany it : it muft there- 

 fore have been ufed either as a laver or fymbol only of this 

 part of the heathen mythology, and for no other ufe ; for it 

 is certain that no wine was ever poured into it. 



This fuperb monument of antique decoration was dug up, 

 fome centuries ago, among the ruins of Adrian's villa, to- 

 gether with the fragments of three other vafes of nearly 

 fimilar dimenfions; all of which appeared, by the fituation 

 in which they were found, to have occupied the fame parti- 

 cular fpot of that once extcnfive and magnificent emporium 

 of art. It was then removed to the villa Lanti, near RomCj 

 where for many years it attracted the notice and excited the 

 admiration of both the traveller and the artift. This, and 

 one at Warwick caftle, which is fomewhat more decorated, 

 are the only complete vafes, of the fapie dimenfions, extant ; 

 and areunqueftionably the moft magnificent and nobly-fculp- 

 tured fpecimens of antique decoration of this kind ever dif- 

 covered. 



The Lanti vafe was brought from Rome about twelve 

 years ago, at a confiderable rifk and expenfe, by the Right 

 Hon. Lord Cawdor, on whofe claffical tafte and judgment 

 it muft ever confer the higheft credit. The removal of this 

 grand work of art from that city, caufed great jealoufy among 

 the fuperintendants of the Vatican Mufoeum, then forming 

 rmder the aufpices of the reigning pontiff, the late Pius 

 the Sixth ; who, it is well known, in his refentment on this 

 occafion, threatened feveral perfons concerned in the re- 

 moval of the vafe, with the gallies. 



The dimenfions of the vafe are : diameter of the mole, 

 fix feet three inches j height, with its prefent plinth, fix 



feet 



