The great banquet hall decorated with paintings in the Dionysian style is the latest discovery of archaeologists in Pompeii. – In a hundred years today will be remembered as historical – said Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli on Wednesday. The finds were made in the central part of the archaeological area, where excavations are underway.
The remains of a large banquet hall with frescoes have been discovered in past weeks in Pompeii, in the central part of the archaeological area. This ancient city was destroyed in 79 as a result of the eruption of Vesuvius.
The frescoes decorate three walls of the room and you can see the retinue of Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility and theater, with dancers and satires. There is also, among others, the image of a woman who is to join the initiation ritual, introducing her to the secrets of Dionysus.
“In a hundred years today will be remembered as historical”
Initial rituals, known as Dionysus's Misteria, were secret religious rites dedicated to God, promising spiritual enlightenment and probably blessed afterlife.
– In a hundred years today will be remembered as historical, because the discovery we present is historical – said on Wednesday the Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, who participated in the unveiling of the frescoes. – Together with the villa of secrets, this fresco is an unparalleled testimony of less known aspects of ancient Mediterranean life – he added.
This “extraordinary discovery” is compared to finding the so -called The villas of secrets in Pompeii a hundred years ago.
Source of the main photo: Reuters