A masterpiece of Art, a story of Rebirth…directly from the depth of the Mediterranean Sea!

The Dancing Satyr of Mazara del Vallo emerges in all its glory after 2300 years spent on the sandy sea floor at a depth of 500 m (1600 ft.) off the southwestern coast of Sicily. Randomly retrieved by a fishing boat in 1998,the sculpture went under a long period of restoration, completed with its exhibition in Montecitorio in 2003. Since then the statue was presented through a world tour from USA to Japan.
The Dancing Satyr is a Greek bronze statue, said it was an original work by Praxiteles or a faithful copy, representing a satyr:a mythological being part of the raucous entourage of the Greek god Dionysus. The satyr appears to be leaping forward in an ecstatic dance, strongly flexedon the right hip and with his right leg raised backwards. This posture suggests that the statue was part of a complex of sculptures, representing the entourage of Dionysus. The position of the boy, his wild-eyed gaze and the perceived movement make an almost hypnotic composition…

The sculpture is is on permanent display in the namesake Museum in Mazara del Vallo, Sicily, and - though it is not easy to reach – it is wellworth a trip.