Ancient Roman Sarcophagus Unveils Epic Drinking Duel Between Hercules and Dionysus—What Secrets Lie Within?
‘Like A Scene Out Of A Movie’
Israel Antiquities AuthorityThe excavation site in Caesarea where the sarcophagus was found.
According to a press release the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) posted on Facebook, the Roman sarcophagus was discovered during excavations in Caesarea, a seaside town in the north of the country.
Archaeologists were digging in a sand dune when the marble sarcophagus suddenly began to appear before their eyes.
“It was like a scene out of a movie,” IAA archaeologists Nohar Shahar and Shani Amit exclaimed in the statement. “We began removing the soft, light sand of the dune, when suddenly the tip of a marble object popped up. The entire excavation team stood around excitedly, and 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. Each uncovered fragment was more impressive than the one before.”
Israel Antiquities AuthorityAn archaeologist with the Roman-era marble sarcophagus.
Shahar and Amit continued: “In fact, in the very last hour of the excavation came the climax — an entire intact side of the sarcophagus, which was buried in the sand, was uncovered, which portrays the scene of Hercules lying on a lion skin, holding a cup in his hand.”
As IAA experts examined the sarcophagus more closely, they determined that the Roman-era marble coffin depicted more than just Hercules. The hero was seemingly engaged in a drinking contest with the god of wine, Dionysus, also known as Bacchus. The deity was surrounded by “a lively retinue of a host of mythological characters such as Maenads (female followers of Dionysus), satyrs, Hermes, Pan, lions, and tigers.”
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