The Feast of Bacchus

Two centurions returning from the Gallic wars arrived in the city on the Feast of Bacchus. They entered the temple of Venus to supplicate themselves to the temple priestesses and to entreat them to fulfill their sacred duties to the goddess. "We call upon the priestesses of the temple to be true to Bacchus, and to Venus, the goddess of love."   

On the feast day of Bacchus, those who joined in were believed to have used intoxicants, entheogens, dance, and music to encourage participants to shrug off social constraints and return to their natural primal state. The priestesses joined in the ceremony,  stripped naked and drank the elixir. They started to make love on the temple floor.  

Everyone could participate, even if they were slaves, outlaws, or non-citizens. There were mystical elements from the Dionysian Mysteries that were adopted by the Roman gods Venus and Bacchus. It was a Mystery religion reserved for initiates, but the festivals were open to the general public. It is thought that the intoxicants and the trance states during the rituals allowed the god to take possession of his followers and grant them ecstasy.