Mural of Ancient Bacchanal at Gratzi
Mural of ancient bacchanal at Gratzi.
Founded in 1987, Gratzi is an upscale Italian restaurant that is Greek owned and features a large mural as well as balcony seating. Painted by a man from Chicago when the restaurant opened, his name was forgotten through the years, but his mural lives on adding to Gratzi’s indulgent and pleasurable atmosphere. This Renaissance-style mural depicts an ancient bacchanal (gratzirestaurant.com) where men, women, satyrs, and in this case, Dionysus as well, took part in drinking wine, listening to music, dancing, and orgies. These events were called bacchanalia or Dionysia (britannica.com) and celebrated Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and ecstasy. Overall, in the festivals, which had some ritual components, participants indulged in all things to the point of excess.
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