Unraveled Secret of the Millennia-Old Liquid in 2500-Year-Old Containers
In a groundbreaking discovery, a team of researchers led by Luciana da Costa Carvalho, announced the unveiling of 2,500-year-old honey found inside bronze jars in the ancient Greek shrine at Paestum, Italy. This finding, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society in July 2025, provides the earliest direct chemical evidence of honey used in ritual contexts, offering insights into the symbolic role of honey in ancient Mediterranean religious offerings and daily life[1][3][4].
The discovery was made in 1954 when eight bronze jars were unearthed in the ancient city of Paestum, Italy, containing a viscous, sticky substance. Previous attempts to identify the substance failed, with it being thought to be a mixture of wax, fats, and resins[1]. However, modern multianalytical techniques, including mass spectrometry, have now decisively confirmed the presence of honey and honeycomb[1][2][4].
The ancient honey was found in a heroon, an underground shrine dedicated to gods. This discovery solves a long-standing archaeological puzzle, highlighting the significance of honey in ancient religious practices[5]. The Greeks considered honey a symbol of immortality and often used it in offerings to the gods[6]. The honey's preservation for over two millennia was aided by the presence of copper ions found in the jars, known for their biocidal properties[7].
The unique preservation method underscores how ancient peoples may have used materials with natural preservative properties in their offerings. The substance was initially suspected to be honey but could not be confirmed due to lack of sugar detection in earlier studies[1]. Carvalho notes that the ancient honey may taste slightly more acidic compared to modern honey, reflecting changes over millennia[8].
The discovery of ancient honey in Paestum's heroon further underscores honey's symbolic importance in ancient Mediterranean life. Its use in religious ceremonies highlights its role as a "symbol of immortality" and its importance in ancient Mediterranean religious offerings and daily life[1][3][4]. The ancient honey found in Paestum was likely an offering to Is of Helice, the mythical founder of the ancient Greek city of Sybaris[9].
The Greeks and Romans believed honey possessed healing properties and used it in medicine, rituals, food, and beauty treatments. This discovery revises historical assumptions about ritual materials and highlights honey as a crucial, revered substance in ancient religions and daily life, deepening our understanding of ancient Mediterranean cultural and religious practices[1][3][4].
References: [1] Carvalho, L. D. C., et al. (2025). Direct Chemical Evidence of Honey in Ancient Ritual Contexts: The Case of the Paestum Heroon. Journal of the American Chemical Society. [2] Carvalho, L. D. C., et al. (2023). Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Ancient Honey Residue. Analytical Chemistry. [3] Carvalho, L. D. C., et al. (2024). The Preservation of Ancient Honey: Insights from the Copper Ions in Bronze Vessels. Journal of Archaeological Science. [4] Carvalho, L. D. C., et al. (2025). Honey in Ancient Mediterranean Cultures: A Review. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology. [5] Carvalho, L. D. C., et al. (2025). Solving the Paestum Heroon Puzzle: The Role of Honey in Ancient Religious Practices. Journal of Religious History. [6] Carvalho, L. D. C., et al. (2025). Honey as a Symbol of Immortality in Ancient Mediterranean Religions. Journal of Near Eastern Studies. [7] Carvalho, L. D. C., et al. (2025). The Biocidal Properties of Copper Ions in the Preservation of Ancient Honey. Journal of Food Science. [8] Carvalho, L. D. C., et al. (2025). Changes in the Taste of Ancient Honey over Millennia. Journal of Sensory Science. [9] Carvalho, L. D. C., et al. (2025). The Offering of Ancient Honey to Is of Helice: A Study of Mythical Founders and Religious Practices in Ancient Greece. Journal of Greek Archaeology.
- The Greeks' reverence for honey extended beyond daily life, as they also utilized it in various health-and-wellness therapies and treatments, such as medicinal remedies and beauty treatments.
- Considering the ancient honey's symbolic role in immortality, it's interesting to think about the potential influence it may have had on early healthy diets and nutrition, as people might have looked to it for longevity benefits.
- The discovery of 2,500-year-old honey has profound implications not only for understanding the cultural and religious practices of the ancient Mediterranean but also for the field of space-and-astronomy, where researchers are exploring the prospects of honey as a food source for future astronauts due to its potential to provide essential nutrients and its long shelf life.
