Conny Waters – AncientPages.com – Over a century after the Villa of the Mysteries was found, a major fresco has been uncovered, providing new insights into the mysteries of Dionysus in classical antiquity.
This discovery occurred in a big banquet corridor just lately excavated in Pompeii’s central space, particularly in insula 10 of Regio IX. The almost life-size frieze, referred to as “megalography” (from Greek that means “giant portray”), adorns three partitions of the room whereas the fourth aspect opens to a backyard.
Credit score: Ministero della Cultura – Pompeii
The art work illustrates Dionysus’s procession—the god related to wine—that includes bacchantes depicted as dancers and hunters carrying a slaughtered goat or wielding swords and animal entrails. Younger satyrs with pointed ears are proven enjoying double flutes, whereas one other performs an acrobatic wine sacrifice by pouring wine from a ingesting horn over his shoulder right into a patera (a shallow cup).
Central to this composition is a girl standing beside an aged Silenus holding a torch, signifying her function as an initiand—a mortal girl about to be initiated into the mysteries of Dionysus, who symbolizes demise and rebirth and provides this promise to his followers.
Credit score: Ministero della Cultura – Pompeii
In a press release, Italy’s Minister of Tradition mentioned that the frieze found in Pompeii provides fascinating insights into historic artwork and non secular practices. All figures within the frieze are depicted on pedestals, resembling statues, but their dynamic actions, lifelike complexion, and detailed clothes give them a vivid presence. Archaeologists have named the location “Home of the Thiasos,” referencing Dionysus’ procession. In antiquity, cults like that of Dionysus required initiation rituals for entry; these had been referred to as “mysteries” as a consequence of their secretive nature accessible solely to initiates. These cults typically promised a blessed existence each on this life and past.
This specific frieze is an instance of the Second Model of Pompeian portray from the first century BC, dated explicitly between 40-30 B.C. By the point Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, burying Pompeii beneath ash and lapilli, this Dionysian art work was already round a century previous. One other notable instance with comparable ritual depictions is discovered within the Villa of the Mysteries exterior Pompeii’s gates.
Credit score: Ministero della Cultura – Pompeii
The newly found frieze provides an intriguing dimension to our understanding of Dionysian initiatory rituals by introducing themes associated to looking. This theme is illustrated not solely by bacchante huntresses but additionally by way of a smaller accompanying frieze depicting reside and useless animals comparable to fawns, wild boars freshly disemboweled, roosters, and varied birds, alongside scenes involving fishing and seafood assortment.
The Dionysian Thiasos setting on the Pompeii excavation web site is now accessible to the general public throughout particular visiting hours. Ranging from the preliminary excavation phases, guests can view this exceptional web site from Monday to Friday at 11 am. Two teams of as much as 15 folks every are allowed entry by reservation, which may be made by calling 327 2716666. Throughout these visits, development employees will information attendees by way of the principle discoveries and clarify each the environments and excavation methods used. Guests should buy a normal entrance ticket for entry to the archaeological park.
Credit score: Ministero della Cultura – PompeiiDio
The continuing investigations in Regio IX of Pompeii started in February 2023 and span roughly 3,200 sq. meters—almost a complete block of this historic metropolis buried by Vesuvius in AD 79. The mission is nearing completion with remaining security measures underway, alongside a valorization mission that may allow everlasting public entry. The “Excavation, Security, and Restoration of Insula 10 Regio IX” initiative goals to reconnect with Through di Nola’s city panorama.
Latest excavations have uncovered two atrium homes initially explored within the nineteenth century; these had been constructed through the Samnite interval and later transformed into manufacturing workshops within the first century AD—a fullonica (laundry) and a bakery that includes an oven, millstone areas, and rooms for meals processing supposed for metropolis distribution. To the south lies a big domus with residing rooms showcasing vital finds: a spacious room adorned with Dionysian scenes, a black corridor depicting Trojan saga narratives, a shrine on a blue background illustrating agricultural themes, in addition to an in depth thermal space.
See additionally: More Archaeology News
Whereas a lot stays unexplored—together with entrances, atriums, and elements of peristyles (colonnaded gardens)—over fifty new rooms have been recognized throughout greater than 1,500 sq. meters inside this fascinating archaeological endeavor.
Written by Conny Waters – AncientPages.com Employees Author
