''Siate allegri, godetevi la vita'': il mosaico con scheletro di 2400 anni fa scoperto in Turchia

Uno scheletro adagiato all'indietro con un boccale in mano e a fianco una brocca di vino e una pagnotta di pane è il protagonista del mosaico scoperto in Turchia da un team di archeologi. Insieme all'immagine appare anche una scritta in greco antico che dice: "Siate felici, godetevi la vita".

Secondo l'archeologo Demet Kara, del Museo Archeologico di Hatay, il mosaico, rinvenuto in un'area già nota nella provincia di Hatay, al confine con la Siria, risalirebbe a circa 2400 anni fa. Si pensa che potesse decorare il pavimento della sala da pranzo di un'abitazione nobile e potrebbe essere stato realizzato nella città greco-romana di Antiochia.
Noto agli studiosi come lo "scheletro spericolato", il protagonista del mosaico non è l'unico esemplare al mondo: ne esiste anche una versione - meno raffinata - risalente al I secolo dopo Cristo e proveniente dall'area vesuviana.



A 2,400 year-old mosaic discovered during excavations in Turkey's southern Hatay province, showing a skeleton lying down with a jorum in his hand and a wine pitcher and bread on the side could be one of its kind, Turkish researchers have said.

The mosaic, which is reportedly from the 3rd century BCE, was first discovered in 2012, when municipality was carrying out work to build a cable car in Antakya and found ancient remains.

Excavations were then launched to search the area for more remains.

A 2,400 year-old mosaic found in southern Turkey says ‘be cheerful, enjoy your life’.

According to archeologist Demet Kara at Hatay Archeology Museum, the mosaic is a part of ancient Greek-Roman city of Antioch and has an Ancient Greek inscription saying 'Be cheerful, enjoy your life.'

Kara further noted that professors have referred to the mosaic as the 'skeleton mosaic' and have concluded that the mosaic belonged to the dining room of a house belonging to the upper class back then.

She noted that there is a similar mosaic in Italy, but this one is more comprehensive, making it a unique piece.

The ancient city of Antioch was established by Seleucus I Nicator -who is one of Alexander the Great's generals- in the 4th century BCE. It is known to be the first place where the followers of Jesus were referred to as Christians.

Hatay is known for its Roman-era mosaics dating back to the second and third centuries BCE.