Bacchus.

Bacchus, the Roman god of wine and ecstasy, corresponds to the Greek Dionysus. He grew up far from Mount Olympus and taught humans how to cultivate wine. Accompanied by maenads, satyrs, and panthers, he traveled as far as India, where he celebrated triumphal processions.

Bacchus stood for wine, intoxication, liberation from social constraints, ecstasy, religious rapture, theater, transformation, and the dark side of nature. His debauched bacchanalia were temporarily banned in ancient Rome.

Jack sat stiffly in his white toga
while the teachers lectured on 
taxes and artificial intelligence.

The banquet was immaculate, 
	with silver trays, a dignified atmosphere, 
hushed conversations, 
and polite nods and smiles. 
Everything was perfectly arranged.

Then an unassuming, 
approachable and 
beautiful slave girl 
carried in a jug.  

“Wine from France,” 
murmured the hostess. 
“A gift.”

Bacchus drank. 
The wine tasted of 
wild thyme and saffron, 
of sun-baked heat 
and forbidden dreams.

Suddenly, the teachers began 
to laugh deep and loud.

The story goes on. Be curious.

All oil and oil pastel on paper.