Rare Dionysian Cult Frescoes Unearthed in Pompeii Banquet Hall

The vibrant friezes, dated to 40–30 BCE, depict initiation rituals and the duality of female roles in ancient Roman society.

Archaeologists discovered a nearly life-size fresco spanning three walls in the House of Thiasus, depicting initiation rites for a Dionysian cult in Pompeii.
The vivid artwork portrays female followers of Dionysus, known as bacchantes, as both hunters and dancers, alongside satyrs playing flutes and pouring wine.
Central to the frieze is a mortal woman preparing for initiation, symbolizing the duality of ancient female roles: wild and untamed versus domestic and orderly.
The frescoes, painted in the Second Style of Pompeian art, are over 2,000 years old and offer a rare glimpse into secretive ancient rituals and religious practices.
This discovery complements the famous Villa of the Mysteries frescoes, broadening understanding of Dionysian worship and life in the ancient Mediterranean world.