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Villa of the Mysteries

Description of the Villa

Beyond the Villa of Diomedes lies the Villa of the Mysteries, famous for having one of the most important decorative fresco collections in the Roman world.

The villa originally dates from the 2nd century BC, but its current layout was set between 70 and 60BC.

After the earthquake of AD62 the villa was extensively remodelled, changing what had been a patrician villa into a working farmhouse, albeit a rather grandiose one.
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View looking east along south portico (M)

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South of the entrance were the service rooms which included the servants' kitchen (G) and the various rooms off the courtyard (H).

The courtyard, which had access to the south side of the peristyle, had a bakery (I) on its north side and contained the main kitchen.
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On the south side of the tablinum a doorway leads to a small room (pictured above) which contains vivid figured frescoes, included among them one of a dancing satyr (pictured below).
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Beyond this room to the east is the room which contains the renowned fresco of the Dionysiac Mysteries (P), details from which are pictured right.

Originally an oecus, the room was later turned into a triclinium. The fresco adorning the walls dates from the first century BC and is one of the most famous of all ancient art.
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The subject involves the initiation of a bride to the Dionysiac mysteries, whose cult was widespread in the region despite the existence of imperial sanctions (Senatus Consultum de Bacchanalibus).
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The frieze depicting the rite is 17 metres long and 3 metres high, and is vividly painted, as the accompanying pictures testify.
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Apart from the fine frescoes, a major find, a statue of Livia, can be seen in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.

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The ground plan is basically square as illustrated above, laid out on a plot of sloping ground. The photograph left shows the deep excavation and is a view looking east along the south east portico.

The original entrance (A) was on the opposite side of the villa to the current entrance and led directly into the area around the peristyle (F). The rooms north of the entrance passage, in particular rooms (B) to (E) on the plan above were associated with the introduction of farming facilities. Room (D) was used in the production of wine, and retains much of its equipment (pictured below).
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The southwest corner of the peristyle (pictured below) opens onto a small tetrastyle atrium (left). This atrium in turn gives access to a private baths suite on its northern side.
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The west side of the peristyle opens onto a Tuscan atrium (K) decorated with scenes of the Nile. This atrium was the focus of the owners living area.

All the decorations in the main part of the villa are in the second style with the exception of the tablinum (Q), which has third style frescoes on a black ground. The tablinum leads from the atrium to an exedra (L) which is flanked by porticos (M).
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Part of the Dionysiac Mysteries, Villa of the Mysteries

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clemio	Latest page update: made by clemio , Jul 16 2009, 11:23 AM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by clemio view changes - complete history)
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Villa of the Mysteries

Description of the Villa

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