THE THIASOS

With the appearance of LIBER PATER’s cult, communities of initiates (mystae) developed: the Thiasos. Their members, the Thiasotai, promoted wine and vine to their acquaintances and administrations. The cult was taking place in sacraria, small shrines containing the statue of the god Liber Pater and objects necessary for the accomplishment of the ritual. For instance, he was honoured in many Pompeii houses, as assert the painting images found on the lararia, the household altars. Some ceremonies included sacrifices, but also hysteria deriving from drunkenness and excesses of all kind, notably sexual debauchery. Today, manners settled down and a Thiasos (restaurant, hotel, family, business, administration, etc.) gathers Liber Pater amateurs around a drink.