‘Be cheerful, live your life:’ Ancient mosaic ‘meme’ found in Turkey’s south

Chad

The Living Force
FOTCM Member
I don't know, it kinda reminds me of the state of the world today, as noted in Laura's writings, the same habits - obsessions with food and keeping up appearances (aint nothing wrong with being clean though!) - and ignorance when those are satisfied, and it's just on repeat. And i'm reminded of the trend for skulls too. But i may be reading too much into it ;) :

(images taken from FB group as the article only has one of them)


http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/be-cheerful-live-your-life-ancient-mosaic-meme-found-in-turkeys-south.aspx?pageID=238&nID=98201&NewsCatID=375 said:
‘Be cheerful, live your life:’ Ancient mosaic ‘meme’ found in Turkey’s south

HATAY – Anadolu Agency


AA photo
What could be considered an ancient motivational meme which reads “be cheerful, live your life” in ancient Greek has been discovered on a centuries-old mosaic found during excavation works in the southern province of Hatay.

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Demet Kara, an archaeologist from the Hatay Archaeology Museum, said the mosaic, which was called the “skeleton mosaic,” belonged to the dining room of a house from the 3rd century B.C., as new findings have been unearthed in the ancient city of Antiocheia.

“There are three scenes on glass mosaics made of black tiles. Two things are very important among the elite class in the Roman period in terms of social activities: The first is the bath and the second is dinner. In the first scene, a black person throws fire. That symbolizes the bath. In the middle scene, there is a sundial and a young clothed man running towards it with a bare-headed butler behind. The sundial is between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. 9 p.m. is the bath time in the Roman period. He has to arrive at supper at 10 p.m. Unless he can, it is not well received. There is writing on the scene that reads he is late for supper and writing about time on the other. In the last scene, there is a reckless skeleton with a drinking pot in his hand along with bread and a wine pot. The writing on it reads ‘be cheerful and live your life,’” Kara explained.

Kara added the mosaic was a unique finding for the country.

“[This is] a unique mosaic in Turkey. There is a similar mosaic in Italy but this one is much more comprehensive. It is important for the fact that it dates back to the 3rd century B.C.,” Kara said.

She also said that Antiocheia was the world’s third largest city in the Roman era, and continued:

“Antiocheia was a very important, rich city. There were mosaic schools and mints in the city. The ancient city of Zeugma in [the southeastern province of] Gaziantep might have been established by people who were trained here. Antiocheia mosaics are world famous.”

April/22/2016
 
itellsya said:
I don't know, it kinda reminds me of the state of the world today, as noted in Laura's writings, the same habits - obsessions with food and keeping up appearances (aint nothing wrong with being clean though!) - and ignorance when those are satisfied, and it's just on repeat. And i'm reminded of the trend for skulls too. But i may be reading too much into it ;) :

(images taken from FB group as the article only has one of them)


http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/be-cheerful-live-your-life-ancient-mosaic-meme-found-in-turkeys-south.aspx?pageID=238&nID=98201&NewsCatID=375 said:
‘Be cheerful, live your life:’ Ancient mosaic ‘meme’ found in Turkey’s south

HATAY – Anadolu Agency


AA photo
What could be considered an ancient motivational meme which reads “be cheerful, live your life” in ancient Greek has been discovered on a centuries-old mosaic found during excavation works in the southern province of Hatay.

13062189_10209699513111267_1181445463112482051_n.jpg

I find this particular image very interesting. I don't know what the owners of the house had in mind when they had it created in their dining room, but it reminds me of the stoic teachings in a way. Trying to reach that stage within oneself where you live life as best you can in a state of serenity, with the constant reminder that death is just around the corner.
 
Alana said:
13062189_10209699513111267_1181445463112482051_n.jpg


I find this particular image very interesting. I don't know what the owners of the house had in mind when they had it created in their dining room, but it reminds me of the stoic teachings in a way. Trying to reach that stage within oneself where you live life as best you can in a state of serenity, with the constant reminder that death is just around the corner.

And just now I read this article from sott: Discussing death over dinner: The topic of death is the main course

which is what I thought when I saw the ancient meme on the skeleton image. It might have not been the reason they installed it in their dining room back then but I thought it was a great idea :)
 
Alana said:
Alana said:
13062189_10209699513111267_1181445463112482051_n.jpg


I find this particular image very interesting. I don't know what the owners of the house had in mind when they had it created in their dining room, but it reminds me of the stoic teachings in a way. Trying to reach that stage within oneself where you live life as best you can in a state of serenity, with the constant reminder that death is just around the corner.

And just now I read this article from sott: Discussing death over dinner: The topic of death is the main course

which is what I thought when I saw the ancient meme on the skeleton image. It might have not been the reason they installed it in their dining room back then but I thought it was a great idea :)

I'd agree. What's that saying: (i googled it!) 'Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.' Martin Luther

I thought the saying was: if i would die tomorrow i would still plant my tree. But i think it's not completely irrelevant. The idea being that, what you do you may not be the benefactor of, or it may be completely futile, but it's in your heart to do it anyway.

And it seems it helps to consider the worst, in order to realise what you want to do most of all, and to do it as best you can.

From what i know, philosophers of many stripes have used symbols of death to stimulate the living into thinking more deeply. About this world, and the possible others.

It's just as always, like the images of hell-fire it can be used nefariously, or like the current fetish for skulls and dark imagery, it's just a fashion accessory. Like you say, we'd need to know more about the occupants motivations to be more sure.

It helps that the skeleton is taking it easy to keep the thinking a little light hearted ;)
 
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