An ivory casket from the Byzantine period depicts several mythological episodes from the classical antiquity, likely inspired from a poem by Nonnus Panopolitis, a 5th century BC poet. Among them, the casket’s back features a relief portraying Ares and Aphrodite accompanied by a Dionysiac procession. The two gods stand on the left, with Aphrodite holding a torch and Ares his war equipment. On one narrow side of the casket, the god Dionysus is depicted on a chariot drawn by two panthers and holding a thyrsus—a staff with a pine cone on top. The other narrow side showcases a Nymph riding a seahorse.

These ivory and bone reliefs are exceptionally rare, displaying remarkable artistry and craftsmanship. They are of extraordinary quality and stand as unique representations of their time. It is believed that the casket originally belonged to a person of high status, possibly at the court of the Byzantine emperor Constantine VIII (976-1028). Till 1861, it was kept in the Cathedral Treasury at Veroli (a town south-east of Rome). For this reason, it is also known as the "Veroli Casket".