Discovered in 1910, nearly two hundred years after the first excavations at Pompeii, the site later dubbed the Villa of Mysteries contained many finds typical of the ruined Roman city, including the ashen outlines its long dead inhabitants. But a cryptic –and remarkably well preserved — series of frescos uncovered inside hinted at a story entirely different than that of the other townsfolk that met their apocalyptic end, along with Pompeii itself, after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

An otherwise conventional seaside estate outside of the city proper, the stately villa went largely undamaged by volcanic ash and magma. But though the frescoes adorning a 15 by 25 foot ancillary chamber — later to be known as the Initiation Room — could viewed clear as day, they featured scenes that many found at once both baffling and fascinating.

The god Bacchus appears prominently in the scenes alongside his mortal bride, Adriane. While Bacchus had been among most widely worshiped deities in first century Rome, he was the most popular with a certain demographic — young women — and his venerators were said to have participated in orgies, gluttonous feasts, and animal sacrifice, after which the carcass of the sacred beast would be consumed raw.

Soon enough, it became plainly evident to archaeological authorities that the Villa of Mysteries was in fact as site of worship for that very same Bacchanalian mystery cult and set aside for a certain for a particular ceremony. Close examination of the masterfully executed frescoes revealed the steps of an esoteric ritual, presided over by Bacchus, that aimed to induct upper class females into the rigors of marriage — a psychological preparation for entrance in the next phase of womanhood.

As depicted on the walls of the Initiation Room, the soon-to-be wed initiate would have been begun by consuming a cup of Kykeon - an intoxicating and possibly hallucinogenic brew — and then be led through a series of mysterious sacraments meant to parallel the scared union of Bacchus and Ariadne. At the end, after a confrontation with the god of love, Eros, the young participant would be fit to marry.

Though the Villa of Mysteries’ Initiation Room contains some of the clearest insights into the cult of Bacchus ever discovered, researchers have been unavailable to identify the owners of the sprawling Pompeiian villa — something done for almost every other home in the ruined city. Since restoration of the site was completed in 1930, all that has been known is that its residents owned a thriving vineyard — one that may have provided the necessary cover to practice rituals that, even by Roman standards at the times, were considered perverse.

Our products make great gifts for anniversaries, birthdays, holidays and other special occasions. Whether you seek an elegant piece of jewelry or a gag gift for the history enthusiast in your life, we will help you find it.

Ancient Rome Store Hoplomarchus Gladiator Helmet Gladiator Thracian Helmet I Gladiator Thraex Helmet Gladiator Arena Helmet III (Brass)

Tags: 1910, 1930, 79 A.D., ancient Roman city, Ancient Rome Store, animal sacrifice, Ariadne, Bacchanalian mystery cult, Bacchus, cult of Bacchus, Eros, Gladiator Arena Helmet III (Brass), Gladiator Thracian Helmet I, Gladiator Thraex Helmet, gluttonous feasts, Hoplomarchus Gladiator Helmet, Initiation Room, Kykeon, Mount Vesuvius, orgies, pompeii, pompeii villa of mysteries, Roman frescos, Roman god of love, Villa of Mysteries