description Mildenhall Great Dish Overview
The Mildenhall Great Dish is a large Roman silver platter dating to the 4th century AD, discovered in 1942 near Mildenhall, Suffolk, England. It is the centerpiece of the Mildenhall Treasure, one of the most significant hoards of Roman silver found in Britain. The dish is decorated in high relief with Bacchic scenes depicting Bacchus, Pan, satyrs, maenads, and other figures from classical mythology. The treasure is held by the British Museum in London.
help Mildenhall Great Dish FAQ
What is depicted on the Mildenhall Great Dish?
Its central medallion shows the Roman god Oceanus, surrounded by marine imagery. The wider decoration includes Bacchic scenes associated with Bacchus, satyrs, maenads, and revelry.
How large and heavy is the Mildenhall Great Dish?
The silver platter is about 60 cm across and weighs more than 8 kg. Its scale and elaborate relief decoration make it the most imposing object in the Mildenhall Treasure.
Who found the Mildenhall Great Dish?
Ploughman Gordon Butcher discovered the treasure with his employer, Sydney Ford, near West Row in Suffolk in 1942. The hoard later entered the British Museum's collection.
Was the Great Dish made in Roman Britain?
It was found in Britain, but scholars have debated where within the Roman world such sophisticated silverwork was produced. The dish belongs to a 4th-century hoard of 34 pieces of Roman silver tableware.
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