A massive bacchanalian frieze spanning three walls has been discovered in a banquet hall in the ancient Roman city Pompeii, the archaeological park announced in a press release.
And:
The frieze is located within the Casa del Tiaso or House of Thiasus in Regio IX in Pompeii. Thiasus is associated with the presence of Dionysus and followers. To become part of the ancient cult of Dionysus, initiates were required to participate in secret rituals.
The thing about these cults, like the Eleusinian Mysteries, is that much of their material is lost.
Archaeologists reveal the enigmatic burial practices of the Southern Jê people of Brazil. There was a time when they buried their dead in caves, before moving on to mounds.
The researchers noticed a potential pattern: most (88%) of the analyzed caves were located near water features such as waterfalls, rivers, and streams. According to Southern Jê mythology, water is the only element that connects all three levels of the universe: the underground realm of the dead, the earth-level realm of humans, animals, and untouched forests, and the celestial world of the stars, sun, moon, and gods. This connection to water may have thus helped the deceased souls transition from the earth level into the underground realm. While still preliminary, future geostatistical studies may help determine if this is a mere coincidence of geography or a deliberate act. Interestingly, the researchers also determined that burial caves were usually hidden in hard-to-reach areas and not visible to surrounding villages.
It’s tempting to associate this with the River Styx, and some kind of ur-myth around water and the dead.
A timber circle has been found in the Vesthimmerland region in Denmark, marking a significant discovery of a Neolithic cultural site much like the famed Stonehenge in England.
Timber circles are a circular arrangement of wooden posts or tree trunks set in pits and postholes that were likely used for rituals, ceremonies, astronomical observations, and social gatherings. This particular timber circle dates to 2600–1600 B.C.E. with a diameter just shy of 100 feet and consisting of at least 45 wooden posts spaced over six feet apart.
We have a “Woodhenge” in Britain. There seems to be a link between Woodhenge and this place, The Bell Beaker Phenomenon:
The Bell Beaker phenomenon was a widespread cultural movement from around 2800–1800 B.C.E. that spread across Europe, marked by distinctive bell-shaped pottery, advanced metalworking, and changes in burial customs. Archaeological evidence suggests it played a key role in the transition to the Bronze Age, influencing trade and social structures.
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