Archaeologists find unique 1,700-year-old sarcophagus depicting booze battle with a god
A marble coffin with vivid carvings of a fabled face-off between Heracles and Dionysus discovered in Caesarea is the sole example in the region and likely belonged to a wealthy family
Rossella Tercatin is The Times of Israel's archaeology and religions reporter.
A stunning marble sarcophagus carved with a raucous drinking contest between Dionysus and Heracles has been unearthed in Caesarea, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced Monday.
The imposing artifact depicting vivid scenes from Greek mythology was unearthed last June during an archaeological excavation just beyond the known walls of the ancient port city in northern Israel. With its exceptional craftsmanship and richly detailed engravings, the sarcophagus is unlike anything previously found in the region, said the Israel Antiquities Authority archaeologists leading the dig.
A lecture on the sarcophagus and its discovery will be held on Thursday as part of the Banquet Conference at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv, organized by the IAA together with Tel Aviv University and Bar-Ilan University.
“The sarcophagus is dated to the Roman period between the second and third centuries [CE], but it was also in use in the following centuries during the Byzantine period,” the IAA’s Nohar Shahar told The Times of Israel in a phone interview.
The artifact was likely commissioned by one of the wealthiest families in Caesarea.
“There was no local production of marble in ancient Israel,” said Shahar. “This sarcophagus was imported, likely from northwestern Turkey, where several prominent marble workshops operated. Most of the carving was probably done there, with the final touches completed here.”
According to Shahar, the depiction of a drinking contest between Heracles, the heroic son of Zeus, and Dionysus, the god of wine, is a surprising and unusual choice for a sarcophagus.
“While the story often appears on mosaics from the period, this is the first time we find it on a sarcophagus, at least in our region,” she said.
In the depiction, the hero Heracles — also known as Hercules, in Roman mythology — lies down on a lion’s skin, a cup of wine still in his hand, defeated. Other sides of the artifact feature animals, plants, and other human figures.
“I think this choice speaks volumes about the family who commissioned the sarcophagus,” Shahar noted. “Clearly, they enjoyed a certain lifestyle and saw this scene as a fitting reflection of their identity, or perhaps of the deceased’s character.”
According to the researcher, later in the Byzantine period, a mausoleum was built around the tomb with beautiful decorations and mosaic floors.
“In the mausoleum, people visited the sarcophagus and performed rituals,” Sahar said. “The person buried there was obviously an important figure, so it is plausible that generations later, their family continued to take care of the site.”
Shahar explained that an artifact of such striking beauty likely drew people in — if only to admire it.
“People did not have TVs and iPads back then,” she said. “This is a very visual artifact, perfect for conveying a message.”
After its discovery, the sarcophagus was restored by the IAA conservation team.
Around the third century CE, Caesarea was a bustling city that expanded beyond its walls.
“This site was on the outskirts of the city where villas and agricultural estates stood,” said Sahar.
In light of the theme chosen for the sarcophagus, the family that commissioned it was likely pagan. Caesarea was a melting pot of the different cultures living in Israel at the time, including Jews and Christians.
“We found some artifacts featuring crosses,” Sahar said.
By the sixth century CE, the site where the sarcophagus was found had become a dump.
“It was covered by one or two meters [yards] of pottery sherds and trash brought from the city, but underneath that, we did have several findings, including the sarcophagus and other structures,” Sahar said.
Many of the discoveries, including some inscriptions in Greek, are still under study. According to Sahar, further research will likely offer more answers on the story behind the mysterious sarcophagus.
The Times of Israel Community.