Bacchanalia
The Bacchanalia were unofficial, privately funded festivals held in honor of Bacchus, the god of wine, revelry, and theater. These festivals were inspired by the ecstatic elements of the Greek Dionysia and were likely associated with Rome’s native cult of Liber.
Deity: Bacchus
Observances: Drinking of wine, mixing of people of both sexes and all ages at night
The Bacchanalia were shrouded in mystery, and little is known about their specific rites and practices. Livy, a Roman historian, provided a sensationalized account of the festivals, describing them as involving frenzied rituals, sexual violence, and conspiracies against the state. However, modern scholars view Livy’s allegations with skepticism.
Despite the controversy surrounding the Bacchanalia, the cult persisted and even expanded. Senatorial legislation in 186 BC attempted to regulate the festivals, but they continued to be celebrated throughout the Roman Republic and into the Imperial era.
Digital Maps of the Ancient World 