Eros
and
Pan
are depicted colliding in the foreground, portrayed in a waiting pose, in the presence of the old man
Silenus
, the old tutor of
Dionysus
, who represents arbitral judgement by the wreath of flowers surrounding his head.
On the ground is an overturned jar of oil used by mortal fighters, whose poses are also assumed by the two gods, while, in the middle, a palm branch is held up as a prize for the winner.
Two groups of figures behind the two protagonists look on.
On the side of Eros we see two young boys inciting their favourite to victory, and three women, perhaps the Domina accompanied by a handmaiden and preceded by a young girl.
Pan is accompanied, on the other hand, by a procession of mythical figures linked to the Dionysian circle. Among them are three
maenads
adorned with jewels. In front of them stands the figure of a young satyr.
On a table are placed four bejewelled crowns, featuring palm branches, while sacks of coins are placed on the ground, probably to be divided with the supporters.
