The Mystery of the Ancient Jars

 Theo and I are both curious souls. How did people live thousands of years ago before electricity and running water and air conditioning? Was their life anything like ours?

We spend hours walking around the archaeological site of Paestum (the best preserved Greek/Roman city) where there are still, after thousands of years, three remarkably preserved Greek temples, a Roman forum, a market, and an amphitheater. Historians believe it's a miracle that the temples are still here. The Italians have been excavating the site, uncovering the remains of the city when the Greeks occupied it for 200 years. 

Italy is hot this time of year. Walking around an archaeological site can be an exhausting experience. However, after Theo's snack, we can't leave without peeking into the National Archaeological Museum of Paestum, which has become the repository for all the things they have found.

I have so many questions and so little time. We decide to focus on their artwork. What was on their walls?  What kind of stories did they tell about their daily lives? AND we also want to see the Tomb of the Diver, a rare find, which depicts in color a fresco on a tomb dating to 500 BC. The subject is mysterious and highly unusual for a drawing on a tomb: a lone diver leaping into a pool of water. What can it mean?

Theo is not as enthused. But he's just eaten so he is willing to trot alongside of us and sniff the exhibits. It is cool in the museum which is a blessing. 

Check this out:

You can learn a lot about a culture by looking at the scenes they decide to depict on their vases. 

I am also super impressed by the ornamentation in their houses:

I love the masks and the elaborate decoration of their shelves. 

Finally, we come to the Tomb of the Diver:

 These four scenes tell a story depicting what historians call a symposium--a time where men gathered together--to eat and drink and discuss everything. Only men are depicted. They seem to be quite chummy with each other. 

Then we have the diver scene:

You might be thinking--okay--what's all the fuss? Keep in mind that these scenes are on a tomb. Someone took the time to create these frescoes--but why on a tomb? No one knows the answer. As we're pondering the what and why, Theo is sniffing.

Of course, he is. Because he's located an exhibit which is another mystery. Excavated from thousands of years go are two jars filled with - well, no one knows. The nearest explanation is that the jars were filled with honey--the nectar of the gods.

If Theo could, he would leap into the exhibit to get closer. I glance at Dan and he reads my mind, scooping Theo up in one fell swoop. He is not a happy camper and struggles to get down.

"No, this is a major archaelogical exhibit. You cannot jump up and try to break the glass and get inside."

Theo only wiggles more. 

"You could be arrested and imprisoned. Is it worth it?"

Theo shrugs.

I expect nothing else. But I can't resist asking, "Can you smell anything? What do you think it is? Honey???"

Theo sighs. "If only," he must be thinking, "you two weren't here. Then I could find out . . ."

"Theo, is it honey?"

"Sure, mom, whatever you say."

Ugh.