The Archaeological Museum at Izmir (Smyrna)

Here we see some of the remarkable funerary art, and besides showing us how the ancients dressed it also reveals something of their afterlife beliefs.  Salvation in the Greco-Roman world meant healing or rescue from danger or harm. It generally did not refer to spiritual transformation or a gift of everlasting life.  The Greeks and Romans believed the soul was inherently immortal and so salvation had nothing to do with giving them some sort of immortal soul. Salvation was mundane blessing or benefit that kept this life going.  The funerary art above has the symbol for the God Asklepios (the snake and staff of modern medicine as well), suggesting there were unsuccessful prayers for healing for the deceased.

Here we see a remarkable bronze statue of the goddess Demeter. Notice the head covering.  When a Roman or Greek person made a sacrifice or offering, they would cover their heads in the presence of the deity, which definitely has something to do with what is going on in 1 Cor. 11.



The skill of ancient artisans was considerable as you can see from this gold crown recovered in Izmir. Our best estimates suggest that about 2 per cent of the population controlled well over 90% of the wealth in that age. 'Plus change, plus le meme chose'.


Here is some of the remarkable glassware found in the agora and elsewhere--- some of it intact for the last 2,000 years. Glassware was especially used for storing precious oils, unguents, and perfumes.  There were even the ancient equivalents of deodorant sticks.  One would wear a little perfume bottle around one's neck and 'freshen up' from time to time. See below.


The pistic nard mentioned in the Gospels as poured out on Jesus' feet or head by Mary of Bethany was the ancient equivalent of Chanel No. 5. It was a very expensive perfume, which explains the outrage of Judas to some degree.



And of course all such items cost money, and above what you see is some of the imperial gold coins from the later Roman Emperors.  The province of Asia was very wealthy, and the Romans were smart enough not to tax the region to death.   It is no wonder the residents of  Asia believed in a Gospel of health and wealth, of peace and prosperity, all of a material sort.
No wonder the goddess Demeter looks so worried in this statue.  Many of the ancients, like many modern American Christians seemed willing to sell their souls for the Gospel of material abundance here and now.