Dionysus Initiation Rites Cult Of Pompeii

Function/Symbolism
The “Initiation Rites Cult of Bacchus” was used to communicate the rites of passage for the women of Pompeii. Much like the Greek women, Dionysus was the one of the most important and popular gods for Roman women. He was the source of both their sensual and their spiritual hopes (Art and Archaeology). This painting may have been viewed as a sacred item because it represented the ritualistic ceremony centered on a deity that prepared girls for the psychological transition to life as married women (Art and Archaeology). The room in the villa may have been a shrine or meeting place for this deity.

The “Queen Nefertari Offering to Isis” tomb was used to tell the story of the queen's life and the journey of her death. The queen
is depicted asking Isis for safe passage as she journeys to the afterlife. The depiction of deities were considered sacred by Egyptians because they help to determine what happened to your ka or life force. There are many symbolic events in this relief, for example the rod in Isis left hand symbolizes power, while the ankh is symbolic to life.

Just like the Romans, the Egyptian’s considered their deity sacred; which meant that any object that depicted them were viewed as sacred. Both reliefs chronicle the ritualistic ceremony that prepare subjects for important transition that took place through and after life. However the Egyptians placed a stronger emphasis on one’s ability to transition to the afterlife because they were judged by 14 gods, before they could make it to the afterlife, and the state of could have been good, or bad depending on judgement.

Cultural Context Although Rome Republic faced political upheaval, and war. This was also a period that art flourished, and rulers wanted themselves immortalized through the use arts (sculptures, paintings and even coins). This was evident when Pompey builds its first permanent theatre in Rome. Art reflected the way people lived, dressed and their belief system. Class played a strong role in the appearance of wall reliefs and sculptures. The wealthy decorated their homes with sculptures depicting themselves and certain deities, this is something the lower class may not have had access to.

Religion was an important part of the daily life of the Egyptian people, it dictated how they treated each other as well as their outcome in eternal life.
Class also played a role in Egyptian art as slaves were usually depicted in a naked manner, while the wealthy or upper class was depicted fully clothed.

Much like the Romans, the Egyptians took great pleasure in their appearances and were equally concerned with how they were depicted in art. The desire for perfection resonated far beyond art and into their religious beliefs. Ancient religions of Rome and Egypt shared a lot of commonality such as polytheistic, which basically means that they both worshiped many gods, rather than one. In both cultures, religion was seen as an intricate, yet important part of life. Although the Romans and the Egyptians worshiped different gods and told different stories about their gods, they both believed that religion did not end with their physical deaths.

This brings us to our final exhibit, ladies and gentlemen welcome to the sarcophaguses of ancient Rome and Egypt.

To your left we have the “Indian Triumph of Dionysus’ from ancient Rome and to the right we have the “Inner Coffin from Tutankhamun’s Sarcophagus”, which is from ancient
Egypt. Identity The “Indian Triumph of Dionysus’ sarcophagi is made of marble and is believed to have been made in 190 CE. Its dimensions are 47 ½ x 92 ½ x 35 13/16”. It was made for an aristocratic Roman family known as the Calpurnii Pisones (Stokstad). It depicts the triumph of Dionysus the Greek/Roman god of fertility and wine. The central theme of the sarcophagi was based on the family’s religious belief in the deity Dionysus, which represents the process of decay and renewal, and death and rebirth (Stokstad).

The “Inner Coffin from Tutankhamun’s Sarcophagus” is from the 18th Dynasty, it is believed to have been made around 1332- 1322 BCE. It is an anthropoid coffin (man shaped) which was constructed in Tutankhamen’s likeness. The sarcophagi of Tutankhamun actually consists of three coffins. We are viewing the inner most coffin which is made of solid gold, glass and semiprecious stones. The coffin depicts Tutankhamun holding a crook and flail, which are symbols associated with Osiris the god of the dead. Nekhbet and Wadjet, vulture and cobra goddesses of Upper and Lower Egypt, are seen with spread wings across Tutankhamen’s body. This is the coffin that actually housed Tutankhamun’s mummified body. Although we do not know who created Tutankhamun’s coffin, we can appreciate the artistry and work that went into the design.

Style

The Inner Coffin of Tutankhamun depicts the pharaoh as a god. Gods were thought to have skin of gold, bones of silver, and hair of lapis lazuli, so the king is shown here in his divine form in the afterlife (Cummins). The sarcophagi is 6’ 7/8” high and weighs nearly 243lbs, which depicts Tutankhamun in profile. Tutankhamun’s coffin boast a linear design coupled with the idealistic, stylization that the Amarna period was known for (Stokstad). This is observed in the usually full lips and thin nose of king Tut, although the sarcophagi is idealistic there are some realistic styles observed on the sarcophagi; this is seen in the retention of some of Tutankhamun's natural facial features (Stokstad)

The obvious differences between both sarcophagi’s are seen in the materials used to construct them. While the Roman’s use marble to construct their sarcophagi, the Egyptians used wood on the first two sarcophagi’s of king Tutankhamen’s coffin and gold on the inner coffin. This was done to symbolize Tutankhamun’s deity and to provide a face for the afterlife. Other difference are seen in the use of the anthropoid styled coffin and through the use of stylized profile used on Tutankhamun’s face. The biggest commonality lies in the depiction of both cultures god’s and the roles their god’s played in the afterlife.

Function
The sarcophagi of king Tutankhamun was used to house his physical body as his ka (soul) moved on to the afterlife. This made the sarcophagi both sacred and symbolic. The inner most coffin that is made of gold represents Tutankhamun status as god, since it was believed that god’s had skins of gold. The crook and flail also symbolizes Tutankhamun place as ruler and super human sovereignty (Stokstad) .

During the second and third centuries Roman’s had stepped away from cremation, so there was a need to house (or store) the remains of those that were deceased. The sarcophagi answered this need. Matters of the afterlife was of huge consequence to the Roman civilization and it is for this very reason the Capurnii Pisones commissioned the relief to be made with the deity Dionysus as it depicts his triumph over death. The sarcophagi represent Roman’s religious belief as well as a promise for a prosperous afterlife.

Cultural Context
During the Arman period Egypt was known for the precision and beauty of its art.
It was also a period of religious change. King Tutankhamun brought about the return of traditional religious practices such as the worship of Amun and polytheistic worship; which meant Egyptian could choose who they wanted to worship. The transition back to polytheism once again had a place in art and art had a place in polytheism. This is noted from the multiple diets on Tutankhamun’s sarcophagi.
Much like the Egyptian’s class had a big impact on the construction of Rome’s citizen’s sarcophagi. The distinction arouse between Rome’s classes. The wealthier you were, the more elaborate and stylized your resting place. Which is not uncommon to today’s culture.

As we conclude our tour, on behalf of the Carte’ Blanche museum, thank you for visiting us. It has been a true pleasure viewing the exhibits with you, please feel free to come and visit again. The museum receives new pieces of art every three months, so there is always something new to see and learn about. As we say in Egyptian ila al’likaa' (pronounced il-lah-lik-or) and in Latin valete! Goodbye to you
all.