Ancient Love Inscriptions in Astypalea

Greek Reporter ^ | June 4, 2014 | Evdokia Fourkioti

[SunkenCiv]

According to Ethnos, ancient love inscriptions dating back to the early 6th and the late 5th centuries B.C., were recently discovered in Astypalea.

Spirals, shapes of ships, tools in triangular shapes were mostly drawn by the Neolithic inhabitants of Astypalea.

One of the first findings of the Professor of Prehistoric Archaeology, Andreas Vlachopoulos, was rock paintings located in Vathi at the Pirgos Peninsula and date back to 4th-3rd millennium B.C.

In 2013, more unexpected findings were discovered, which present an aspect of privacy of the ancient Greek inhabitants in the early 6th and late 5th centuries B.C. The Secretary General of the Archaeological Society, Vasilios Petrakos, made extensive reference to two love inscriptions that were discovered which depict two phalluses from the right angle.

[SunkenCiv]

The concept of love during the ancient Greek times isn’t that different from nowadays. The only change is the way people used to express their feelings. A lovestruck person today may use graffiti to express passion for his beloved, while ancient Greeks inscribed love messages on stones.

[mkmensinger]

“For a good time, call....”

[Hardastarboard]

Reggie Loves Barrie

[SunkenCiv]

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The Sweetness of Honey and the Sting of Bees: A Book of Love from the Ancient Mediterranean by Michelle Louvric and Nikiforos Doxiadis Mardas

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[ArtDodger]

Xerxes loves Leonidas

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

Looks like Xerxes picked the right town.

[SES1066]

According to Ethnos, ancient love inscriptions dating back to the early 6th and the late 5th centuries B.C., were recently discovered in Astypalea.
Spirals, shapes of ships, tools in triangular shapes were mostly drawn by the Neolithic inhabitants of Astypalea.

I somewhat dispute the designation of Neolithic (New Stone Age) as this is well after the Minoan Age and the Trojan War of Homer's Epic. My understanding is that the popular designation of Neolithic varies by region but generally ends where historical events and people can be accurately identified. Granted that this is pre-written history but, as Homer proves, poets and bards can keep history until it gets a chance to be written down.

FYI: for the geography listed, Astypalea in on the island of Astipálaia in the Southern Aegean due west from Thera midway between Greece and Turkey. (Thanks to Internet Search!)

[wildbill]

It ain’t braggin if you can deliver the weight.

“And sometimes late at night
When I’m bathed in the firelight
The moon comes callin’ a ghostly white
And I recall
I recall

Like a rock. standin’ arrow straight
Like a rock, chargin’ from the gate
Like a rock, carryin’ the weight
Like a rock”

[SunkenCiv]

The Minoans and the Trojan War were not in the Neolithic because both happened during the Bronze Age, during which iron was also known and in some use.

> My understanding is that the popular designation of Neolithic varies by region but generally ends where historical events and people can be accurately identified.

Neolithic means “new stone age”.

Prehistoric means before writing, and that is specific to the culture involved. Hence, PreColumbian America was more often than not prehistoric, even though the rest of the world had been in the historical ages here and there since the introduction of cuneiform in Sumeria.

[SunkenCiv]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=keIvA2wSPZc

I’ve never been a fan of Bob, but a couple of his tunes are on my playlists, and it should make some cold blood around here run even colder.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7OTIO2rfdjg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk7V70W0F-I

[Sherman Logan]

Neolithic technically refers to the New Stone Age, as you say, when agriculture and pastoralism developed. This is what, among other things, differentiated it from the Old Stone Age, where people were exclusively hunter/gatherers.

Since these inscriptions were well into the Iron Age, I believe calling them Neolithic is incorrect.

[Prospero]

Yes, the "Neolithic" label seems all mixed up in this report, though there is some reference also to 4th and 5th millennia BC happenings written there. It's the sort of "science reporting" we've come to expect these days.

And "Love Inscriptions?" Sounds like a politically correct description of graffiti.

[wildbill]

Back in the day I got into promoting rock concerts. And I used to go to most of the big shows when they came to Texas.

I took some friends to a Seger concert in SA and one of them looked a lot like Seger in stature and facial looks and his dress. When we got out of the limo, girls behind the barriers were going crazy, showing their boobs and the security people were bowing and scraping. We just laughed and let them lead us to the back stage entrance. It must be great to be the King.

On the way out, I mistakenly opened the door of the wrong limo and some guy was balling a girl in there. My mistake, Dude.

Loved those crazy daze.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

An advertizement for a Brothel—Remember they call it the world’s oldest profession for a good reason. The ship may indicate they were seeking sailors as customers—sounds about right.