While visiting the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston, I came across the Indian Triumph of Dionysus. Originally from Rome, it was created by a wealthy follower of the mystery cult of Dionysus at the end of the 2nd century AD. This worshiper evidently wanted to build a sarcophagus in homage to the exploits of Dionysus. Additionally, Dionysus is surrounded by characters who are part of the mystery cult because the creator wants viewers to know who he is associated with. By combining these two things, the patron hoped to shed light on a piece of history that he believed had been important during his lifetime. The layout of the museum makes it very easy to find works of art from different time periods. Since I have always been fascinated by ancient Greece and Rome, I knew exactly where to start my research. The Indian Triumph of Dionysus is displayed directly at the top of the staircase leading to the second floor. It is surrounded by many other artifacts from ancient Greece and Rome. As your eyes move across the room, catching a glimmer of gold here and pearly white marble there, it's very easy to feel overwhelmed for a moment. When I reached the top of the stairs, it was evident that the staging of this magnificent piece had been carefully planned. The museum staff undoubtedly wants this piece to be seen by every visitor. The exhibition itself is well done. If you stand directly in front of the Indian Triumph of Dionysus, everything around you seems to fade away and tunnel vision sets in. As I stood in front of the Indian Triumph of Dionysus, diligently taking notes since photos are not permitted, I experienced an extreme spiritual connection to the past. I tried to put myself in the author's shoes. What was its purpose? What's in the middle of the card? It's also important to note that each character appears to have wide eyes and dark circles drawn under their eyes. This is perhaps one of the most important aspects because the eyes show the underlying theme of total intoxication. This in turn demonstrates the impact Dionysus had on his followers and those he conquered. Wine has given great power to its creator and has had a lasting impact on history. With these communication tools, we are able to see that the follower wanted to capture the legacy of Dionysus by creating a remembrance sarcophagus in his honor.Works Cited“MFAH Top 100 Highlights #35 - The Indian Triumph of Dionysus”Museum of Fine Arts Houston Online. 06 April 2012. http://www.mfah.org/art/detail/dionysus-indian-triumph/Unknown. The Indian triumph of Dionysus. 2nd century AD Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas.