Bacchanalia: what is it and how bad is it?

Bacchanalia. What it is, many represent mainly on the canvases of the great painter Peter Paul Rubens. There is hardly anyone who has never heard this word. And its meaning is all about. But the origin of this word and the phenomenon designated by it, few people ever think of. It is so firmly embedded in the consciousness of many peoples that it is superfluous to comment on it, everything is clear to him and everything. And yet, this is a rather interesting phenomenon of the ancient life of ancient Rome.

Bacchanalia. What it is?

In modern reality this word is used quite often, but more often than not it is completely out of the question. A variety of politicians and simply dissatisfied citizens are disposed to label everything "bacchanalia" for everything they do not like. What they are, they usually do not know. And this - no less - sacred ritual of service to the ancient god of winemaking Bacchus. This is such a peculiar manifestation of religious feelings, and not some vulgar booze with other obscenities, as many probably think when they hear the name of this ancient holiday. In ancient Rome, this festival came from the east, where it was timed to the traditional completion of the collection of grapes and processing it into a young wine. But in Rome this festival acquired several other features. Initially, only women took part in it. They gathered in an olive grove on the outskirts of Rome, exclusively at night. With large doses of wine they brought themselves to a state of religious frenzy and tantrums. The action was accompanied by unbridled violence, mutilation and murders.
Another "fun" was, the code in the festivities began to participate in men, and they were held more often, without looking at the calendar. The level of disgrace has become simply beyond the reach. At these gatherings, among other things, political conspiracies and criminal alliances were created. All negative in Rome gradually became associated with the word "Bacchanalia". What it is, it became clear even without suffering a special modesty aristocracy. The Roman Senate was forced to issue a number of acts aimed at limiting these gay folk customs. Fought with bacchanalia Roman authorities for a long time. With about the same success as in Russia with drunkenness.

Bacchanalia. Picture of the ancient holiday as a popular image in the world of painting

This theme has made a strong impression on many generations of artists. Painters of the following centuries turned to the theme of Bacchanalia with enviable constancy. This was both fashionable and popular with the aristocratic public in a number of countries in medieval Europe. Wealthy people, both merchants and noblemen, liked to decorate their homes with scenes of Roman entertainment. Many sighed enviously, looking at how cheerfully the Romans lived. And demand at all times gives rise to a proposal. The recognized classic of this topic was Peter Paul Rubens. "Bacchanalia" of the great Flemish master is an ornament of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow.