What was life really like in Pompeii? This week's science news has revealed some weird details of the lives of the illfated city's inhabitants.
First, archaeologists uncovered an extremely rare wall painting depicting an ancient, secretive cult centered around female followers of Dionysus, the god of wine. The fresco portrays a young woman being led by a part-goat, part-human creature through an initiation ceremony. The activities of this cult were kept secret from outsiders, so the fresco offers unprecedented insights into their mysterious practices.
