La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
The underground museum, like a time capsule of Sevilla during the first 700 years AD, is called the Antiquarium. Many people see the name and think they’re going to see an aquarium. Some are disappointed. An antiquarium is a repository of antiquities. One of the first major things you pass when you enter is the Roman fish-salting plant where they made garum, fermented fish sauce. Pliny the Elder called it “exquisite liquid” as well as “a choice liquor consisting of the guts of fish and the other parts that would otherwise be considered refuse,” which is a bit paradoxical if you ask me. The elite considered it an aphrodisiac. Still, I’m not sold.
The rest of the large underground space is filled with the footprints of former homes, temples, meeting halls, mosaics, streets, and ancient sewer systems. Signage and videos used to be available throughout. I wonder if they were too expensive to maintain. Now, the audio tour (free) is a must if you want in-depth information on what you’re seeing. I’m still coughing but feeling slightly more energetic. Do you suppose a bowlful of garum would help?
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El museo subterráneo, como una cápsula del tiempo de Sevilla durante los primeros 700 años dC, se llama Antiquarium. Muchas personas ven el nombre y piensan que van a ver un acuario. Algunos están decepcionados. Un antiquarium es un depósito de antigüedades. Una de las primeras cosas importantes que pasas cuando entras es la planta romana de salazón de pescado donde hacían garum, salsa de pescado fermentada. Plinio el Viejo lo llamó “líquido exquisito”, así como “un licor selecto que consta de tripas de pescado y otras partes que de otro modo se considerarían basura”, lo cual es un poco paradójico si me preguntas. La élite lo consideraba un afrodisíaco. Aún así, no estoy vendido.
El resto del gran espacio subterráneo está lleno de huellas de antiguas casas, templos, salas de reuniones, mosaicos, calles y antiguos sistemas de alcantarillado. La señalización y los videos solían estar disponibles en todas partes. Me pregunto si eran demasiado caros de mantener. Ahora, el recorrido de audio (gratis) es imprescindible si desea obtener información detallada sobre lo que está viendo. Todavía estoy tosiendo, pero me siento un poco más enérgico. ¿Supongo que un tazón lleno de garum ayudaría?
· Casa de la Ninfa, siglo II/III.
• Emblema central del mosaico de la ninfa amymone. Siglo II. Paganismo. Alto imperio romano.
• Enterranmiento infantil en ánfora, siglo VI, Cristianismo, Época visigoda. (¿Qué fue primero, el entierro o el ánfora?)
• San Geraldo, un verdadero clásico.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
The SG photo is an absolute gem. Otherwise, the Visigoths seemed to have done a number on the old place 😉.
Wicked Hamster:
I think you would find the museum fascinating.
I love that photo of San Geraldo. That’s the gem in the Antiquarium.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
He was probably related to those other “heads”
Looks to be a very interesting place………SG looks very intense studying that figure.
Jim:
I made him pose. It’s the eyes.
SG’s intensely concentrating face should be immortalized in a bust to join those other four in your first photo!
Debra:
You’ve got me thinking.
I would LOVE this museum! (and I’d love an aquarium, too) Hmmm… still trying to figure out how they got the child in the amphora. A bit like a ship in a bottle!
Kelly:
When you figure out the child/amphora, let me know.
If you like Worcestershire Sauce, you’d like garum. It’s more or less the same thing. Jx
PS That SG pic is brilliant! Love a museum that has a collection of weird old objects 😂
Jon:
Well, Worcestershire sauce is savory with an umami flavor. I’ll take that over pungent and fishy garum. I would love to go back soon and spend more time in the museum with the audio tour.
Worcestershire Sauce’s umami comes primarily from fermented anchovies, but it doesn’t smell or taste of fish; that’s why I reckon it is the same (or similar) stuff to garum, and why Pliny the Elder loved it. Probably on cheese on toast 😄 Jx
All lovely and historical. Unfortunately, I am now imagining wearing a toga. Hubba, hubba be still my heart.
I do believe that if you did the whole garum thing you’d be too busy puking to even think about coughing.
I’ve had a cough for about a year now. I’ve gotten used to it. I hope yours goes away soon, Scoot.
Deedles:
From what I’ve read about garum, the smell alone would cause me to puke. A cough for a year? Horrible! But SG would ask if you sound like Tallulah Bankhead. I don’t know why he thinks that‘s what we sound like with sore throats. A local at Mesón Salvador (a 70-year-old gay man) told me I sounded sexy. “Like Bruce Willis when he was young.”
Well, mine isn’t a constant cough, so there’s probably not enough damage for me to sound like I smoke five packs a day. I do have a cavern inside after the birth of my oldest. Ten pound babies coming out of impossible holes can do that to a person. I’ve had people tell me that I should do those phone sex thingys. Not in a million years, honey!
I left out SG’s name on the toga thing. Spring is getting to me big time this year! SG-toga-yummy!
Deedles:
Heehee! I wondered if imagining yourself in a toga was turning you on!
I’m not sold on garum either. Love the photo of SG!
For some reason the school where I work has decided your blog is a bad security risk so I can’t access it from work. It’s blocked by the web filter. (No reflection on you!) I’m trying to get this corrected but just FYI, it might temporarily interfere with my ability to keep up with your blog!
Steve:
Oh, shoot. I wonder what is setting your school security off.
Wow, the $3 entry fee for the Antiquarium IS a gift! Love all the mosaic work.
Forget the garum, maybe you just need a big spoonful of cod liver oil? Or a toga party?
Tundra Bunny:
I had a glass of Málaga wine the other night. It really worked. The only problem is it only worked as long as there was wine in the glass. Do you suppose garum tastes worse than cod liver oil? (Not that I’ve ever had cod liver oil.)
I like the SG exhibit, and love the mosaics. What a find!
Bob:
I wish I could have shared the entire museum with you.
The horned man is absolutely amazing
Going Gently:
Isn’t he. I wish I could have gotten closer to those. They were in a blocked off area for some kind of presentation.
Looking at ruins makes me wish I could see what it all looked like before it became ruined.
San Geraldo kind of resembles that bust he’s looking at.
Kirk:
Oh, to rebuild everything they found. Can you imagine?
Garum? I prefer Gollum. Give it to us raw and wriggling!
Walt the Fourth:
I hope you mean gula. I really don’t want to imagine Gollum raw and wriggling.
Amazing photo, looks like a great museum. Audio tours – bore me. I don’t need to know that much. I think I hold a record for the fastest tour of the Louvre.
David:
I’ve found some audio tours interesting, to the point, and very helpful (like the one at the Picasso Museum). Others drive me to drink.
Fishy anything just sends me running!
ron troke:
I have a feeling if we were together and smelled garum, I’d be running with you.
yes yes yes just the sort of place I would want to see.
Urspo:
It’s fascinating and so beautiful. AND you’re in the middle of Seville!