It’s been proven through various archeological discoveries that human beings have enjoyed getting drunk since almost as long as we can trace back. But a recent discovery has shown that even mythological heroes are susceptible to getting wasted here and there.
While they dedicate their efforts to turning Palestine to rubble, Israel has found time to start digging through what’s left of their newly occupied land. The Israel Antiquities Authority announced recently that it has found a fascinating Roman sarcophagus in Caesarea, a coastal city claimed by the Israelis in 1947.
The scene depicted in the archeological discovery shows the mythological hero Hercules getting wasted with Dionysus. This is a very unusual scene. Heroes were rarely seen to be drinking or doing anything other than being heroic.
This is being heralded as the first discovery of its time in Israel. But that’s hardly surprising for a state only 75 years old.
Unusual Heroic Depictions On Archeological Discovery
The marble sarcophagus has a beautifully preserved scene carved into the sides. The excavation team didn’t know what they had found until experts weighed in. “We began removing the soft, light sand of the dune. Suddenly, the tip of a marble object popped up,” archaeologists Nohar Shahar said of the discovery.
“The entire excavation team stood around excitedly. As we cleared more sand, we couldn’t believe what we were seeing. Parts of a sarcophagus, upon which figures were carved: gods, animals, and trees.”
As they handed the archeological discovery over to experts, the scene was revealed. Hercules, hero of mythology, was drinking with Dionysus, god of partying. They figured out the pairing with a little common sense. “Hercules’ condition, depicted on the sarcophagus as someone who is no longer able to stand, points to the obvious answer: Dionysus.”
The image is incredibly preserved, with clean cut lines, and although chipped, still very identifiable. The whole scene is a snapshot of ancient times. “In the center we see Dionysus, the god of wine, and around him a lively retinue of a host of mythological characters such as Maenads (female followers of Dionysus), satyrs, Hermes, Pan, lions, and tigers.”