Roman Sarcophagus Unearthed in Caesarea Sheds Light on City’s Ancient Scale

A stunning archaeological discovery near the ancient port city of Caesarea is capturing global attention and offering tantalizing clues about the city’s forgotten grandeur. Unearthed just beyond the city’s previously understood borders, a 1,700-year-old Roman sarcophagus adorned with mythological imagery is now helping scholars reassess the size and cultural reach of Caesarea in antiquity.

At the heart of this rare find is an extraordinary scene the Greek god Dionysus and the legendary Hercules engaged in a spirited drinking contest. While such depictions are known from ancient mosaics in places like Zippori and Antioch, this is the first time the scene has appeared on a burial sarcophagus in Israel.

“This is the very first time we’ve found the Dionysus and Hercules wine competition scene on a burial coffin in our region,” said Nohar Shahar of the Israel Antiquities Authority. “It’s a powerful blend of art, mythology, and Roman-era burial practices.”

The sarcophagus, likely belonging to a wealthy Roman resident of Caesarea, was revealed as part of an excavation just outside the city’s ancient boundaries suggesting those limits were broader than previously believed. According to Shahar, “This expands our understanding of Caesarea’s layout and wealth of archaeological treasures.”

Discoverers Nohar Shahar and Shani Amit described the moment of the find as almost cinematic. “As we carefully swept away the fine sand of the dune, a marble artifact began to appear. The whole excavation team stood in awe,” said Amit. Intricately carved details emerged deities, trees, animals and finally, a fully intact side panel featuring Hercules reclining on a lion skin, goblet in hand. The symbolism was clear: Dionysus, the god of wine, was the victor in this mythical contest.

Beyond its artistic and historical significance, the sarcophagus challenges long-held assumptions about Caesarea’s boundaries during the Roman period. Once a thriving metropolis built by Herod the Great and later a key hub in the Roman Empire, this new discovery hints at a city of greater scale and complexity.

The sarcophagus will be formally unveiled at the Eretz Israel Museum in Tel Aviv on June 12, during “The Feast” conference, a gathering of top scholars and archaeologists hosted by the Israel Antiquities Authority, Tel Aviv University, and Bar-Ilan University.

Each find like this reaffirms Israel's rich historical tapestry and enduring legacy as a crossroads of civilizations. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for more extraordinary discoveries from the land where history lives.