
Artist's commentary
Dionysus' Panther
While visiting Rome I learned that Dionysus had a panther companion for a time and wanted to draw something based on that, and then when I looked up the mythology to make sure I had understood it correctly I discovered that the mythological panther (apparently quite a bit different from real ones ;3) had quite the voracious streak too!
"According to medieval beliefs, after feasting, the panther will sleep in a cave for a total of three days. After this period ends, the panther roars, in the process emitting a sweet smelling odour. This odour draws in any creatures who smell it (the dragon being the only creature immune); they are eaten by the panther, and the cycle begins again."