Mystai, dancing out the mysteries of Dionysos
Peter Mark Adams
Scarlet Imprint. To order direct see: https://scarletimprint.com/publications/mystai
Fine edition: Limited to 64 copies; three quarter bound in purple goatskin, marbled boards and endpapers, all edges gilt, finished with a silk ribbon and presented in a solander box. – £295
Standard hardback edition: Limited to 900 copies; bound in purple cloth, blind debossed and stamped in gold, textured Pompeiian red endpapers. – £60
When I read that Scarlet Imprint were publishing this book in October 2019 I was immediately interested. Some time ago I had, by chance, seen an item by Morgan Freeman on History Channel about Mysteries around the world… He talked about a villa in Pompeii that housed the secret Cult of Dionysus. I had never heard about this and was struck by the frescoes depicting the initiation rites and the role of women.
So when I saw that Peter Mark Adams had written a book about it I decided to have a closer look. I also saw that the bookshop Treadwell’s in London were organising a book launch and of course a signing session. A quick email to Treadwell’s and I had ordered a signed copy.
Unfortunately I couldn’t attend the book launch but in between times I followed the news about the book of course and noticed that Peter had also given an interview with Rune Soup / Gordon. The interview which lasts for more than an hour is certainly worth listening to as Peter describes not only why he felt compelled to write the book but also the technical difficulties in creating it.
I ordered the signed standard hardback edition and was absolutely amazed when it arrived. For £60 it is really worth every penny. The production and the quality of the images is stunning; especially after hearing from Peter how difficult the production was. Shortly after I posted a couple of images on my Facebook timeline, my good friend Güzin Yener responded and it transpired that Peter and I had actually met. She reminded me of the meeting in Istanbul, Turkey, when she introduced me to Peter – about 2008! Peter still lives in Turkey. I contacted him and indeed we had met. It was lovely re-connecting.
Front cover- hardback edition
A wonderful salon table book – beautifully produced by Scarlet Imprint
The book itself is really a superb look at the Cult of Dionysus, in this case the role of women, or priestesses in the Dionysian Mysteries. The villa and the frescoes date from about 540BCE.
Peter writes: “Arising from within the unique interface between Greek and Roman culture in Southern Italy, the frescoes attest to the survival of an unbroken initiatic tradition of Bacchic mystery rites on the Italian peninsula stretching back to the fifth century BCE.”
Situated in Pompei, Italy, the villa is unique and that the frescoes escaped the lava and eruption of Vesuvius is a miracle. Peter believes that these frescoes and the understanding of the visual language lay the foundation of the Mystery Tradition in Europe.
The importance of Dionysus in Wicca practice is of course evident. With this book the information regarding the importance of (elderly/married) priestesses and the central role they played in the Cult is incredible.
Highly recommended!
PS I have been so inspired by this book that I have just booked a trip to Naples in April 2020 and plan to spend some time at Pompeii 😊
References:
Talking Dionysian Mystery Cults with Peter Mark Adams: https://runesoup.com/2019/10/talking-dionysian-mystery-cults-with-peter-mark-adams/ or http://runesoup.libsyn.com/talking-dionysian-mystery-cults-peter-mark-adams
Thelema Now! Guest; Peter Mark Adams, 17 January 2020: http://thelemanow.com/thelema-now-guest-peter-mark-adams-2020
