The dish was found in 1878 in the Perm Region. It bears a representation of Silenus and Maenads dancing. Silenus was a forest demon, a companion of the god of wine Dionysus. Silenus, shown bearded and with a wineskin, is typical of early Byzantine art, which adapted subjects from the art of antiquity. On the reverse are five stamps with the monogram of the Emperor Heraclius (610-641), marking the high quality of the silver used.