Greek Graffiti Hint at Daily Life in Ancient Smyrna

IZMIR, TURKEY—Graffiti spanning the second to fourth centuries A.D. have been found in the agora at Smyrna. Written in Greek, the messages are a slice of life from the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Experts are working to conserve and interpret the words and drawings. “There are some pieces of graffiti under the plaster as well that we cannot prepare yet. We are having talks with Swiss experts to uncover them without damaging the ones on the top layer,” explained Turkish archaeologist Cumhur Tanriver.