Dionysus with Maenads (Greek red-figure cup)

This image from a drinking cup shows Dionysos, Greek god of wine and intoxication, with maenads, and Pan, god of woods, fields and shepherds, playing the syrinx, or shepherd's pipe. The dithyramb was a choral form of poetry sung in praise of Dionysos while drunk, which was incorporated into ancient drama, and Dionysos was closely associated with theatre.