The book

Published by: Thyrsus Publications
Release Year: 2020

Hardback ISBN: 978-1-7923-3488-7

Softback ISBN: 978-1-7923-3711-6

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Her journey is mine. Her journey is yours. Initiation. Ritual. Wisdom. I am a daughter of the Priestess of Pompeii. There are things worth knowing.

The Villa of the Mysteries in Pompeii is famous for its cycle of Dionysian Ritual Frescoes.

This book is the fictional story of a real person, the Domina of the Villa, Rufilla Istacidia, who lived in Pompeii, First Century BCE.   Rufilla is born to parents in the servant class. Still, when her mother dies, her father renounces the baby, and her miraculous rescue by a wealthy Pompeiian family fatefully transforms her destiny.


Rufilla’s epilepsy is considered a sacred illness which not only produces violent episodes of seizures but prophetic dreams.

A dream of her betrothed’s death and ensuing darkness serve as a catalyst to begin the initiate’s journey where sexual awakening mirrors spiritual illumination.

The book takes readers to healing sites in ancient Greece: Epidaurus, Ariadne’s Palace of Knossos on Crete, the Sanctuary of Apollo, and the Oracle of Delphi. Rufilla receives messages through dreams, Dionysian rituals, and mythological encounters as she struggles with her conflicting feelings over traditional marital duties and the desire to be completely free and independent.  


Priestess of Pompeii is an epic, yet intimate portrayal of Rufilla’s world in ancient Pompeii and Greece.  Mythology and history intertwine, like the inner and outer worlds of life.  Whether on the pirate-infested seas, in the quiet of sacred sanctuaries, inside Julius Caesar’s politics, swept up in the bustling marketplaces, or in the throes of erotic rituals, Priestess of Pompeii is not only a book for time travelers, but is a portal into a woman’s coming of age through the lens of Jungian psychology.

praise

  • Whether you are craving well-researched historical fiction, a feminist portrayal of Greek and Roman Goddess worship, an unusual travel log, or a lively romance, Priestess of Pompeii: The Initiate’s Journey, Book I ticks all the boxes, maybe even some you didn’t realize you wanted ticked. Sandy Hurt’s epic narrative is a first-rate first novel that left me looking forward to Book II!

    Lori Ostlund, author of After the Parade

  • Inspired by an iconic image of a Pompeiian woman, Sandy Hurt has imagined Rufilla Istacidia into being and set her on a life journey that explores and illuminates the lives of women in ancient Rome. Rich in historical detail, Priestess of Pompeii will make readers feel they are taking that journey with her.

    Barbara Shoup, author of An American Tune and Looking for Jack Kerouac

  • It is a rare opportunity to spend time with a character so personal to an author, and Rufilla's story will surely impact readers with its theme of perseverance in the face of adversity. The story begins in the waning days of the Late Roman Republic, and this fastidiously researched backdrop serves as a compelling setting for the protagonist’s own turbulent experiences. Given this incredible start, I look forward to seeing where the sequel progresses in this window into the 1st century BCE Mediterranean.

    Charles Hill, M.A. in Art History and Archaeology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

  • Sandra Hurt's Priestess of Pompeii: The Initiate's Journey is a richly envisioned book of historical fiction which will be of interest to history buffs, feminists, and persons engaged in conscious spiritual journeys. She has created female characters who react to the patriarchal strictures of their days through a feminist lens and interprets spiritual experiences and wisdom through the lens of Jungian psychology, connecting contemporary inner journeys with stirringly realized ancient ones.

    Susan B

  • In her sweeping historical novel, Priestess of Pompeii, Sandy Hurt places the reader inside an ancient Roman and Greek world where paying tribute to the gods is as commonplace as going to your local CVS, and where a young girl’s initiation in the rituals of Dionysus is rendered so expertly it seems as familiar as a cotillion or quinceañera. The author’s fidelity to history, her unbelievable grasp of everyday details, and the magic of storytelling will have the reader wondering if Sandy Hurt is a crackerjack detective — or simply a time-traveler.

    Nancy Zafris author of The Home Jar: Stories

  • The journey of the Priestess is every woman’s journey. The ancient voices of women, their rituals, and their wisdom as told in Sandy Hurt’s marvelous book flow and shine through the centuries to our day. The Priestess of Pompeii is a beautifully told story that also powerfully evokes Jungian psychological insights.

    CAROL FAENZI, AUTHOR OF THE STONECUTTER'S ARIA

  • The mystery, passion, and wisdom of antiquity comes alive in stunning emotional color.

    J.G. Sparks, author of At the Heart of Matter

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