The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/tag/dionysus)
Archaeologists have discovered a monumental frieze depicting worshipers of Dionysus in a newly excavated portion of Pompeii. The near-life-size paintings portray a procession of Dionysiac figures participating in an initiation ritual as part of the deity’s mystery cult.
“When I was a teenage zealot, I used to imagine what television might be like in a world that was primarily Pagan,” writes Meg Elison. “I’ll never see that world, but this year a small window opened on it. Over the last week, I got acquainted with two Netflix shows about the Pagan world as it might have been: KAOS and Twilight of the Gods.”
Perperikon, an ancient Thracian city in Bulgaria, reveals new discoveries, including Roman-era altars possibly dedicated to underworld gods. Excavations uncover connections to Dionysus worship, mystery cults, and possibly psychopomps and underworld deities.
Friday’s opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics was wild and sparked Christian outrage over a scene that had nothing to do with Christianity, but did have to do with Paganism and portrayals of deities.
Who do I find the gods that fill my life now so restful?They are terrifying. The kindest of them is streaked with blood and prone to fits of violence. Their characters are complicated and often petty, their stories filled with the sorts of vengeance that humans can only feint at. Which is why I trust them. At least they’re honest about it.