Archaeologists working in Pompeii have unearthed a series of rare, almost life-size frescoes.
The discovery provides new clues into the religious life of the city before its destruction by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.
It includes a large frieze extending across three walls of a banquet hall. The vivid images depict initiation rites for followers of Dionysus, the ancient Greek god associated with wine, fertility, theatre, and religious ecstasy.
These initiation rituals, known as the Mysteries of Dionysus, were secretive religious ceremonies dedicated to the god.
They promised spiritual enlightenment and potentially a blessed afterlife.
Dating back to 40-30 BC, the fresco portrays Dionysian followers in states of ritualistic ecstasy, engaged in dancing and hunting.
The artwork bears similarities to the frescoes of the nearby Villa of the Mysteries, discovered a century earlier.
“In 100 years’ time, today will be remembered as historic because the discovery we are presenting is historic,” Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, who attended the unveiling of the frescoes, said.
“Alongside the Villa of the Mysteries, this fresco forms an unparalleled testament to the lesser-known aspects of ancient Mediterranean life.”
The large frieze depicts female followers of Dionysus as both dancers and hunters, carrying slaughtered goats or holding swords and animal entrails.
At its centre, a fresco shows an elegantly dressed woman, possibly awaiting initiation into the mysteries.
The upper frieze displays live and sacrificed animals, including a fawn, a gutted boar, roosters, and fish.
Researchers suggested this juxtaposition highlighted the dual nature of Dionysian worship, blending celebration with primal sacrifice.
“The question is, what do you want to be in life, the hunter or the prey?” said the director of Pompeii, Gabriel Zuchtriegel.
The once-thriving city of Pompeii and the surrounding countryside in southern Italy were submerged by ash when Mount Vesuvius exploded, killing thousands of Romans who had no idea they were living alongside one of Europe’s biggest volcanoes.
The archaeological site covers approximately 66 hectares (165 acres), with about 44 hectares fully excavated.
The latest dig is in an area known as Regio IX which began in early 2023 and has so far revealed over 50 rooms.
Some of the recent discoveries include a black salon depicting scenes from the Trojan War, an extensive bath complex and a fresco that depicts what might be an ancestor of the Italian pizza.
