Archaeologists conducting excavations in Mortsel, in the province of Antwerp, have come across a unique drinking cup bearing a hitherto unknown Roman slogan.
Many are familiar with the Latin slogan 'Carpe diem', but the slogan engraved in the unique drinking cup at a digging site in Mortsel, "Avoca Te," is less common.
Though Antwerp’s southern fringe was much less densely built-up at the time of the Romans than it is today, there were several settlements where agriculture was practised. At an excavation site in Mortsel, archaeologists from the Flemish Heritage Centre found remains of one such settlement.
The findings here included a sacrificial bowl, a dish, ceramic material and a cup with the "Avoca te" inscription.
Festive expression
The archaeologists consulted Professor Christian Laes of the University of Antwerp, who specialises in classical antiquity. He confirmed that the phrase means "enjoy yourself" or "have fun" in English.
"The meaning of the verb ‘avocare’ has changed over time," Professor Laes explained. "Originally, the word meant ‘to call something or someone away’ or ‘to redirect." Later, it evolved into 'enjoy'. Probably the phrase is an informal expression that was used during festivities where wine flowed lavishly, Laes explained.
Countless cups from Roman civilisation have been found in the past, and ‘avocare’ is a well-known verb, but this wording had never before been found on a drinking cup anywhere in the world, making the finding unique.
