Covering three walls of a massive room inside the House of Thiasos, these life-size paintings depict the Mysteries of Dionysus, initiation rites for his followers that included dancing, hunting, and animal sacrifice.
Pompeii Archaeological ParkA view of the banquet hall with elaborate frescoes inside Pompeii’s House of Thiasos.
The Pompeii Archaeological Park has just announced the discovery of a frescoed banquet hall inside the so-called House of Thiasos. These life-size wall paintings feature lively scenes of Roman revelry linked to the secretive rituals of Dionysus, the god of wine and festivity.
Dating back to 40 B.C.E., these vibrant frescoes stood for more than a century before the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 C.E. left Pompeii in ruins. And now, nearly 2,000 years later, they have been unveiled once more.
Frescoes Depicting Dionysian Rituals Discovered In A Pompeii Banquet Hall
Pompeii Archaeological ParkThe banquet room features Dionysian frescoes on three of its walls.
The frescoed banquet hall was found in the Regio IX area in central Pompeii, inside the newly-named House of Thiasos. During the eruption of Mount Vesuvius, the house was buried under ash and rock.
The disaster claimed the lives of thousands of Roman citizens and destroyed the city of Pompeii, leaving it largely lost to history until it was rediscovered by archaeologists in the 17th century.
Centuries of excavations since then have uncovered thousands of artifacts, sets of human remains, and pieces of structures, including everything from frescoes of an ancient pizza to a luxurious thermal spa. Now, the stunning banquet hall at the House of Thiasos has just been added to the list as the latest groundbreaking discovery at Pompeii.
Italian Ministry of CultureThe restored ornamentation on the banquet walls.
The banquet hall’s three walls (the room opened out into a garden on one side) are covered in ornate frescoes featuring vibrant red backdrops. These frescoes are in the Second Style of Pompeian painting, dating back to 40 – 30 B.C.E. This means that, by the time Mount Vesuvius erupted, this house would have been more than a century old.
Italian Ministry of CultureAn illustration of how the banquet hall may have looked prior to the eruption.
The frescoes themselves are believed to be part of the Mysteries of Dionysus, depictions of initiation rituals for the cult that worshipped this god of wine, theater, and fertility. In ancient Rome, cults dedicated to various gods often operated with secrecy. Their rituals were mysterious and exclusive, offering the promise of blessings and access to the afterlife for their followers.
Pompeii Archaeological ParkThe frescoes include hunting scenes as well as dancers engaged in a Dionysian ritual.
But what do the newly-unearthed frescoes reveal about the Dionysian rituals? Based on the depictions of dancers, hunters, and wine drinking, it seems these ceremonies were lively and full of joyful celebration, albeit with an element of grisly animal sacrifice as well.
Inside The Secret Initiation Rites Known As The Mysteries Of Dionysus
Pompeii Archaeological ParkFrescoes of dancers enjoying a moment of religious ecstasy.
In a fitting tribute to the god of wine and festivity, Dionysus is depicted in the recently-unearthed banquet hall frescoes as the ultimate party guest.
In one fresco, figures dance while hunters lug slain goats over their shoulders. In another, a satyr plays the flute while other figures drink wine from a horn. And the center of one fresco shows a young female initiate as she prepares to dedicate herself to the cult of Dionysus.
Italian Ministry of Culture Panels of the frieze showing a hunting scene.
All of the figures are painted on pedestals as if to portray them as statues worthy of reverence. However, their expression, clothes, and actions make them appear very lifelike. Their placement in a banquet hall also likely served to set the mood for visitors to the home.
“They are frescoes with a profoundly religious meaning, but here they had the function of adorning spaces for banquets and parties… a bit like when we find a copy of Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam on the wall of an Italian restaurant in New York, to create a bit of atmosphere,” director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, Gabriel Zuchtriegel, explained in a press release from the Pompeii Archaeological Park.
Pompeii Archaeological ParkMany of the frescoes depict hunting scenes, including animals like fawn, boar, and fish.
Taken as a group, the frescoes in the House of Thiasos are one of just two clusters of large artworks known as megalographs that have been discovered in Pompeii. The other, located in the nearby Villa of the Mysteries, shows the initiation of a young bride into a mystery cult.
“The megalograph found in insula 10 of Regio IX provides another glimpse into the rituals of the mysteries of Dionysus. It is an exceptional historical document and, together with that of the Villa of the Mysteries, constitutes a one-of-a-kind, making Pompeii an extraordinary testimony to an aspect of life in classical Mediterranean times that is largely unknown,” said Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli.
The House of Thiasos and its intricate frescoes are currently open to the public — inviting visitors to step back in time and explore the day-to-day life and rituals of those who once called this doomed city home.
After reading about the frescoes in Pompeii, view 39 photos of the bodies of Pompeii’s victims left frozen in time. Then, read about 12 gods and goddesses from Greek mythology and the influence they had on Roman mythology.
