Villa of the Mysteries

The Mysteries Villa or Villa dei Misteri ( Villa Item also in older literature ) is an ancient villa complex near Pompeii, which was buried by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79. Due to the frescoes found there with depictions of Dionysian mysteries, the villa is one of the most important sites of classical archeology.

The villa is located about 300 m north of the Porta di Ercolano. To the west was reached by the Via Superiore to the villa, east was the road to Oplontis, but it is not known whether there was a communication of this to the villa.

The villa had suburbana (ie villa near the city ) in the 2nd century BC, a clearly structured, axially symmetrical floor plan, but was later repeatedly enlarged, rebuilt and reinforced. After the earthquake of 62 AD, the agricultural part of the villa was enlarged.

The paintings include scenes from Greek mythology. Filed they are in the time of the second style, the so-called architectural style in Roman wall painting.

The entire work cycle of the on the walls frescoes depicts scenes from Greek mythology Represents the actual mystery, which gives this villa the name, but the viewer is initially hidden and is located in a room. The interpretation of the mural is very difficult. One opinion is that in the pictures an introductory rite is represented in the mysteries of Dionysus. The cult of Dionysus was one of the most famous mystery cults.

Thus one finds accordingly also satyrs and Bacchantes or Silene that point as external attributes to the cult of Dionysus. The end of this cycle is a Dionysus who drinks from a shell. One of the figures surrounding it holds over his head a mask with which the real mystery is indicated. Found at the top edge of the great images in all rooms of the villa strictly pulled double meander. The background of the walls with mythological scenes is executed in cinnabar. About the double meander there is still a strip, which is also painted with pictorial decoration.

However, some pictures of the villa also show so-called simulated architecture such as columns, apparent masonry and the like, as well as views of illusionistic landscapes, which she also has typical features of the so-called second style. Simulated architecture or illusionistic architecture says architectural elements that appear in the painting, but in the real architecture can not occur because the mere structural analysis prevents the real execution. It is in painting more of a playful approach to the architectural elements. On a real reproduction of this architecture is not thought of.

The Laconicum ( sweat bath ) Villa vaulted over a small dome, whose wall shell is made of Roman concrete.

Frescoes of the Villa dei Misteri

Dionysiac frieze with gegeißeltem girls and Bacchante

Reading of the ritual, the bride Mysteries