The Frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii

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Illustration

Carole Raddato
by
published on 25 September 2019
The Frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii Download Full Size Image

The Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii owes its fame to the exquisite wall paintings that cover the walls of one of its reception rooms. A mysterious scene with life-size figures in the Second Pompeian Style seems to depict the initiation rite of a young girl into the Dionysian mysteries. Female figures, as well as fauns and maenads, are seen on the sidewalls engaged in various ritual activities, while the god Dionysus appears on the central wall with his wife, Ariadne. The Villa of the Mysteries dates back to the 2nd century BCE but was given its current shape in 80-70 BCE.

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About the Author

Carole Raddato
Carole maintains the popular ancient history photo-blog Following Hadrian, where she travels the world in the footsteps of emperor Hadrian.

Cite This Work

APA Style

Raddato, C. (2019, September 25). The Frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11269/the-frescoes-of-the-villa-of-the-mysteries-in-pomp/

Chicago Style

Raddato, Carole. "The Frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified September 25, 2019. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/11269/the-frescoes-of-the-villa-of-the-mysteries-in-pomp/.

MLA Style

Raddato, Carole. "The Frescoes of the Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 25 Sep 2019. Web. 25 Mar 2023.

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