L'Italo-Americano

L'Italo-Americano THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2025 www.italoamericano.org 6 NEWS & FEATURES TOP STORIES PEOPLE EVENTS of how the earth has repeat- edly risen and sunk over the centuries. At one point, the ground dropped so dramati- cally that the sea flooded the a r e a , s u b m e r g i n g t h e s i t e entirely. Slowly, it began to re-emerge, until it appeared much as we see it today. By d a t i n g t h e b o r e h o l e s o f lithodomus mollusks, scien- tists have been able to trace the vertical movement of the land over time. When the Macellum was originally built, its columns stood above sea level, but between the 4th and 5th cen- turies AD, bradyseismic sub- sidence caused them to sink below the waterline. The land began to rise again in the 1 3 t h c e n t u r y , w h e n t h e columns were more than 26 feet (8 meters) underwater, and by 1538, the Temple of Serapis had re-emerged, lift- ing nearly 20 feet (6 meters) above the sea. The descent resumed in the mid-19th cen- tury, once again submerging the site beneath the waves. The most recent phase of g r o u n d u p l i f t , w h i c h h a s allowed us to see the Macel- lum as it stands today, began in 1982-1984. Up and down, as if the volcano beneath it were breathing. Just a few k i l o m e t e r s a w a y , a n o t h e r masterpiece has resurfaced in Pompeii, almost contempo- rary to the Macellum in its origins. More than a century a f t e r t h e d i s c o v e r y o f t h e s p e c t a c u l a r V i l l a o f t h e Mysteries, this latest find sheds new light on the mys- teries of Dionysus in the classical world. In a grand banqueting hall, excavated in Insula 10 of Region IX, archaeologists have uncovered a megalogra- phy — from the Greek "large painting" — that spans three walls, while the fourth side opened onto a garden. This newly discovered fresco, now known as the Frieze of the H o u s e o f t h e T h i a s o s , depicts a procession honoring Dionysus, god of wine and revelry. The scene is alive with Bacchantes, portrayed both as graceful dancers and fierce huntresses, alongside young s a t y r s p l a y i n g t h e d o u b l e flute. At the center stands a woman on the brink of initia- tion into the mysteries of Dionysus, a deity who dies and is reborn, offering his fol- lowers the promise of the same fate. In antiquity, mystery cults such as that of Dionysus were exclusive and secretive, open only to those who underwent an initiation ritual. The term "mystery" derives from this secrecy—only initiates were allowed to learn the rites and doctrines. These cults often revolved around the promise of a blessed existence, both in this life and in the afterlife. A f a s c i n a t i n g d e t a i l i n these frescoes is that all the figures stand on pedestals, resembling statues, yet their postures, skin tones, and gar- ments make them appear strikingly lifelike. "Behind these extraordinary paint- ings, with their interplay of illusion and reality, we see the signs of a religious crisis sweeping through the ancient world," explains Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Archaeological Park of Pom- peii. "At the same time, we glimpse the grandeur of an ancient ritual tradition — one that dates back to the second millennium BC, to the Diony- s u s o f M y c e n a e a n a n d Minoan cultures, where he was also known as Zagreus, lord of wild animals." T h e n e w l y d i s c o v e r e d P o m p e i i f r i e z e h a s b e e n dated to 40-30 BC, meaning that by the time Vesuvius e r u p t e d i n 7 9 A D , i t w a s already a century old. The only other comparable mega- lography featuring Dionysian rituals is the famous frieze of the Villa of the Mysteries, a must-see in the vast archaeo- logical park. The Dionysian Thiasos Hall, however, is the latest revelation — and is already open for viewing by appointment. Excavations in Region IX, one of Pompeii's nine dis- t r i c t s , b e g a n i n F e b r u a r y 2023, covering an area of 3,200 square meters — nearly an entire city block of the a n c i e n t s i t e . T h e d i g h a s revealed two atrium houses, originally Samnite-era resi- dences, which were later con- verted into productive work- shops in the 1st century AD: one was a fullonica (laundry), and the other a bakery, com- plete with a furnace, mill- stones, and spaces for food processing. To the south of these former house-work- shops, archaeologists have brought to light a series of residential quarters, including a grand domus. Among the most remarkable spaces is the banquet hall decorated with Dionysian scenes, a striking memento of the mystery cults of the time. Another signifi- c a n t d i s c o v e r y i s a b l a c k salon, where episodes from the Trojan War unfold across the walls, adding yet another layer to the cultural and artis- tic wealth of the site. Close by, a blue sanctuary has emerged, its frescoes depicting the four seasons, along with allegories of agriculture and pastoral life. Further exploration has also revealed an extensive bath complex, a discovery that offers new insights into the daily life and social cus- toms of Pompeii's élite. Still awaiting excavation are the main entrance, the atrium quarters, and a large section of the peristyle gar- den, areas that could provide even more details about the layout and function of the house. In total, archaeologists have identified more than 50 rooms, covering 1,500 square meters — a discovery that c o n t i n u e s t o e x p a n d o u r understanding of the city's architectural evolution. W i t h s o m u c h a l r e a d y uncovered, and even more waiting beneath the surface, the next phase of excavations promises to be just as extraor- dinary. In a grand banqueting hall, excavated in Insula 10 of Region IX, archaeologists have uncovered a megalography — from the Greek "large painting" — that spans three walls, while the fourth side opened onto a garden. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 4 The fresco's figures are incredibly lifelike and detailed (Photo: Agnese Sbaffi and Emanuele Antonio Minerva - Ministero della Cultura) The Minister of Culture Alessandro Giuli, visited the site (Photo: Agnese Sbaffi and Emanuele Antonio Minerva - Ministero della Cultura)

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