Dionysus stands with his feet planted firmly on the ground, his weight distributed evenly. At his r. is a seated panther, his front l. paw raised and resting on an outcrop of the stone base. His head is missing. At the l. of Dionysus stood a satyr. From the preserved lower legs he can be seen to have had his weight on the l. foot, on the r. one drawn back. He held a bunch of grapes at the side of Dionysus; only the hand and grapes are preserved here.

Dionysus himself wears a nebris with goat’s head slung over his r. shoulder. His hair fell from his head to the lower neck, a trace of which is preserved on the l. side only. Details of his eyes are not depicted, but a ridge running all the way around forms the upper and lower lids. He has a small but full classical mouth and a dimple between the lower lip and small chin. His hair is made by parallel ridges; a ribbon diadem hangs between two grape bunches.

A relief background existed between Dionysus and the saytr at his l. A thick support column projects behind Dionysus. The original back supports were hacked off, as seen by the rough traces on the base. The base had a border with flat vertical edge, 0.025 high. The top surface is smooth in front of the statues, but rough chiseled behind them.

The Sardis Dionysus has stocky proportions, which may be compared to those of a Dionysus from Cyrene (Paribeni, Cirene, 116, no. 327, pl. 154) and another from Madrid (García y Bellido, Esculturas romanas, no. 82, pl. 71). Workmanship on the Sardis piece is summary, of a style which could be dated as early as the 1st C. A.D., but the dumpy proportions suggest a late date, perhaps 3rd or 4th C.

Worn, porous pinkish white marble.

Entire surface covered with lime incrustation. Head of Dionysus sliced off at both sides, and both arms missing below shoulders; a dowel hole is visible at break in r. arm. Large portion of lower r. torso and upper r. leg missing. Head of panther lost and all of satyr except lower r. leg, l. foot, and r. hand holding grapes at l. side of Dionysus. Entire base preserved in two pieces.