Israeli archaeologists recently uncovered an ancient sarcophagus depicting a scene familiar to many today: a drinking game.
The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) announced the discovery in a Facebook post on June 9.
The Roman sarcophagus, or coffin, was found at an archaeological site within the ancient capital city of Caesarea. The discovery is the first of its kind in Israel.
The marble sarcophagus illustrates a drinking scene between Dionysus, the god of wine, and Hercules.
Pictures from the site show archaeologists beaming next to the discovery, which the IAA described as “spectacular.”
An ancient Roman sarcophagus with Dionysus-Hercules drinking game was recently found in Israel. (Israel Antiquities Authority)
“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,” the IAA’s statement read.
Archaeologists were unsure of what the entire scene depicted until the sarcophagus was handed over to the IAA’s conservation team — who assembled the fragments.
“Thanks to the restoration, the scenes have been fully revealed,” the IAA said.
IAA archaeologists likened the discovery to “a scene out of a movie.”
Delusions of Adequacy 