Never-before-seen series of ancient paintings dug up in Pompeii provide clues on rituals tied to Greek god

A rare set of nearly life-sized paintings were dug up in Pompeii over the last few weeks, offering clues about rituals connected to the Greek god of wine in the ancient city that was destroyed 2,000 years ago.Archeologists dug up frescoes spanning three walls inside a ruined banquet hall portraying the secretive initiation rites known as the Mysteries of Dionysus that date back to 40-30 BC, the Pompeii Archaeological Park said this week.The extraordinary images that emerged from ash show Dionysian followers dancing and hunting, which are akin to frescoes of the nearby Villa of the Mysteries that were found 100 years ago.“In 100 years’ time, today will be remembered as historic because the discovery we are presenting is historic,” said Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli, who attended the unveiling of the frescoes.“Alongside the Villa of the Mysteries, this fresco forms an unparalleled testament to the lesser-known aspects of ancient Mediterranean life.”Part of the mural depicts female followers of Dionysus — who is also the ancient Greek god of fertility, theater and religious ecstasy — as both dancers and hunters with a goat on their shoulders or with a sword and the guts of an animal in their hands, according to the organization.Other parts of the painting show young satires with pointed ears playing the double flute as another puts on a wine sacrifice.At the center, there is a well-dressed woman possibly waiting for her initiation while another part of the painting shows live and sacrificed animals, including a freshly gutted bear, which displays the dual nature of Dionysian worship that meshes revelry 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 recent discovery comes on the heels of the unearthing of the largest private Roman bath house in January.The bustling city was leveled in the year 79 AD when Mount Vesuvius blew its top, killi...