Geez, what’s with all the magical artifact archaeology today?

Now they’re pulling out arcane gear from Pompeii:

Crystals, amber, amethyst, phallic amulets, glass beads, figurines, and a miniature human skull were among the many artifacts archaeologists uncovered from an excavation site at Pompeii recently. The objects were probably left behind by someone fleeing the famous volcanic eruption in 79 AD—possibly even a sorceress. The various objects will be displayed at the Palastra Grande in Pompeii later this year.

The article goes on to say “Many of the artifacts are adorned with iconography associated with fertility, fortune, and protection against bad luck;” considering that they found this in a site that went from town to lava in a single day, I’m not really convinced that said association was really justified. Of course, there’s a practical upper limit to how much mystical oomph a miniature human skull can generate, even at the best of times. Of course, that’s not really the important thing. The important thing is to NOT GO TO THE PALASTRA GRANDE TO SEE THIS EXHIBIT WHILE YOU ARE WEARING THE EXCAVATED PRE-AZTEC SERPENTINE STONE MASK.

Seriously.

Moe Lane

2 thoughts on “Geez, what’s with all the magical artifact archaeology today?”

  1. ‘The article goes on to say “Many of the artifacts are adorned with iconography associated with fertility, fortune, and protection against bad luck;” considering that they found this in a site that went from town to lava in a single day, I’m not really convinced that said association was really justified.’

    Kinda depends on if the sorceress was successful in her attempt to escape Vulcan’s wrath (Or perhaps the wrath of Pluto and the other chthonian entities?). If the answer is yes, then we may presume that the stuff she left behind to cover her retreat and hold back the impending bad luck did indeed do it’s job. Whether any of that stuff would have any mana left after doing that is another question. >_>

  2. Except that Venus and Vulcan didn’t really get along, given that he was a jealous cripple and she was fricking Venus. So Vulcan demolishing a city she prizes as petty revenge sounds like every other myth involving that “couple”.
    QED

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