The crater decorated with mythological figures discovered off the coast of Mahdia during archaeological excavations of a Greek ship depicts a religious dance called ‘Dionysian thiasos’ symbolising Dionysus and his retinue.

The sculptors who created the scene were inspired by processions and religious dances. The procession, composed of satyrs, silenes and bacchantes, takes place above two pairs of silene masks.

The reproduction of the vase serves as the basis for the digital mapping created by the Design Lab team.

For this digital mediation device, musician Wissam Ziadi was invited to compose music inspired by the wealth of instruments illustrated on the vase.

This experimental digital mediation prototype offers a new way of experiencing museum visits.

The Bacchanalia, the great religious festivals celebrated in ancient times in honour of Dionysus/Bacchus, the Roman god of drunkenness and excess, continue to inspire us today.

Design: Museum Lab

Facsimile: Abdesslem Ayed and Mejdi Hezbri

360-degree video mapping. Design Lab

2D animation: AMAVI

Music composition: Wissem Ziadi

Voice-over: Wissal Labidi

Exhibition management: Moussa Himer

Interns:

2D animation: Ahmed Ahmed – Abdelkarim Akermi – Abdelhamid Boukhari – Raed Ghanja

Cultural mediation:

Bardo Museum: Ferdaws Azzabi – Ines Balouchi – Ameni Hammami – Amira Chihaoui

Sousse Museum: Nadia Lajili – Soumaya Saidane – Sherine Attia – Amal Badreddine