Greetings and introduction

Dionysus and his bride – Ariadne or perhaps Aphrodite – welcome us to the Antiquarium of Pompeii. 

They lie supine on the large tuff pediment that decorated the temple in the Sanctuary of Sant’Abbondio, built in the third century BC, not far from Pompeii, in the city’s Samnite phase, prior to the Roman period.

On closer observation, Dionysus holds a bunch of grapes and a drinking cup called a kantharos. 

This sacred place was used to hold the Bacchanalia, mysterious rites in honour of Dionysus, the god who became Bacchus for the Romans. 

What do we know about such secret rites? Very little but we are sure that the cortège, the banquet and the inebriation brought by the wine were part of the cult, which was reserved for initiates. 

An intimate personal path, a rebirth that is still a mystery for the profane.  

Imagine arriving at the sanctuary, admitted to the banquet as an initiate of the cult. There are few followers. A jug of wine is passed around and each person fills their cup, drinks and offers a libation to Dionysus.

A goat is sacrificed. The flesh is eaten raw. Body and blood of the god: let the banquet begin!

We still know little about Samnite Pompeii, but grave goods dated fourth century BC – including objects related to the ritual banquet practice – shed light on this older, lesser-known period of the city.