The fresco of the god Dionysus in the House of Thiasus in Pompeii
This nearly life-sized ruby-red fresco depicts the ceremonial procession Thiasos of Dionysus the god of wine in the banquet hall of what archaeologists call the "House of Thiasus" This magnificent fresco was a new discovery in early 2025 in the Regio IX district of the ancient city of Pompeii Italy. The interior decoration typical of ancient Roman architecture features columns stained or painted in deep red tones reflecting the use of vibrant colors polychromy. The fresco includes fluted columns a style common in ancient architecture and ancient stone or stucco columns with deep vertical flutes. The surface shows signs of chipping and age.
The depiction shows satyrs playing flutes and maenads in various poses. One image shows a goat carried on a shoulder while another shows a young pointed-eared satyr playing a flute while another performs an acrobatic wine offering. Rare large-scale paintings such as those of the Villa of Secrets include traces of the cult of Dionysus. His festivals possibly influenced by foreign elements may have been inherited and played a significant role in the Greek tradition of grape harvesting and winemaking by the Mycenaean Greeks from approximately 1,500 to 1,100 BC.
