Ancient Comics Discovered in Roman-Era Tomb in Jordan
Discovery of the Tomb
In 2016, during road construction near the Jordanian town of Bayt Ras, archaeologists stumbled upon an ancient Roman-era tomb. The tomb, believed to be part of a larger necropolis, dates back to the 1st century C.E. and is located on the site of the ancient city of Capitolias.
The Comic Strip Paintings
Inside the tomb, archaeologists discovered a series of vibrant and well-preserved paintings depicting a narrative story in comic strip form. The paintings feature nearly 260 figures engaged in various activities, with many of them speaking via comic-style speech bubbles.
Unique Inscriptions
The speech captions in the paintings are particularly notable because they are written in a combination of the local Aramaic language and Greek letters. This rare combination provides valuable insights into the linguistic and cultural landscape of the ancient Near East.
The Founding of Capitolias
The comic strip paintings appear to document the founding of Capitolias. The first scene depicts the gods of Olympus deciding on the location of the city. Subsequent panels show people clearing land, building the city walls, and celebrating their work with a sacrifice to Jupiter Capitolinus, the patron deity of Capitolias.
Identification of the Founder
Researchers believe that the figure buried in the tomb may be the founder of Capitolias, who is depicted officiating in the sacrifice scene. His name may be engraved on the lintel of the door, which has yet to be cleared.
Cultural Significance
The discovery of these ancient comics sheds light on the culture and daily life of the people of Capitolias and the Decapolis, a league of 10 (later 14) Hellenized cities on the eastern edge of the Roman Empire. The paintings provide a glimpse into the artistic and storytelling traditions of the ancient world.
Comparison to Other Ancient Comics
While these Roman-era comics are certainly old, they are not the first examples of comics in history. Ancient Egyptian images and Neolithic cave paintings also feature similar speech captions and narrative scenes.
Ongoing Research
Researchers continue to study the tomb and its paintings to learn more about the history and significance of Capitolias and the Decapolis. The discovery of these ancient comics has opened up new avenues of research into the cultural and artistic practices of the ancient world.