Sarcophagus of the Triumph of Bacchus (Lyon)

The style and high quality of its reliefs and the choice of Bacchus triumphing over India as its subject suggests it came from a Roman workshop and possibly dates to the start of the 3rd century, from the reign of Caracalla to that of Elagabalus.

It was found at a depth of c. 4 m (13 ft), between the staircase of the church and an adjacent house, but because of a lack of funds, it was left in place and reburied.

On the left hand side of the relief is Bacchus in his triumphal chariot, decorated with acanthus foliage and drawn by two panthers (his favoured animals) in the foreground.

He holds his thyrsus in his right hand and wears a royal tunic as worn by Hellenistic sovereigns and a woman's chiton covered by a nebris belted at the waist.

The right hand group illustrates Bacchus's triumph over India with exotic figures - captives wearing a short tunic, mantle and barbarian German trousers and with braided hairstyles.