Glass intaglio with the portrait of Silenus from Galilee: stylistic analysis, provenience, dating, and meaning

A small glass intaglio with the impressed portrait of Silenus was found in Galilee some years ago. By its technical and stylistic characteristics, it dates back to the Persian–Early Hellenistic period. Based on the general historical, cultural, and economic conditions of the period, it is supposed to have originated from one of the Greek islands, where the cult of Silenus emerged at that time and was imported to the Land of Israel. Amazingly, in the collection of E. Borowski, the exact glass duplicate of the gem with Silenus was encountered in the course of research (currently located in the Bible Land Museum). Such coincidences very rarely occur in research on small ancient objects. The discovery of this Pagan gem in Galilee sheds light on the spread of the Dionysiac cults and the development of the religious and economic links between the Land of Israel and the Classical Greek world.