Although destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius on August 24, 79AD, the remnants of the Villa of Mysteries remain full of Pompeian artifacts. The famous mural featuring the cult of Dionysus is amongst this 55-room villa. Villa of Mysteries was once flourishing with plant life, bronzed statues, and people working and living in and around the villa. The frescoes in the Villa of Mysteries provide us the opportunity to glimpse something important about the rites of passage for these privileged women of Pompeii.
             The interior design of the homes or villas were not paintings hanging from nails, but they were painted actually onto the wall. The cult of Dionysus is one of these painted murals founded in the Villa of Mysteries, the frieze is 10 ft high and 56 ft long. The term "mysteries" refers to secret initiation rites of the Classical world. The mural exploits the Initiation rites, which; were originally ceremonies to help individuals "grow up." This ceremony was designed to bring women into the marrying stage of life. Occasionally a priest or priestess guided the initiate through the ritual; and at the end of the ceremony, the initiate was welcomed into the group with open arms. Villa of Mysteries seems to be aimed at preparing privileged, protected girls for the psychological transition to life as married women. The frescoes in the Villa of Mysteries provide us the opportunity to glimpse something important about the rites of passage for these privileged women of Pompeii.
             Their bodies seem to be very relaxed, in an open standing position. With the vibrant scarlet Pompeian background that has lasted over 2000 years, and still has a faint shininess to its color. A red so rich, rich like blood. The first figure holds a piece of her cloth very elegantly and seductively to cover a gap in her dress, but to those in the cult, she is revealing something under her garment. Her position is reminiscent of one who is about to exe...