Archaeologists find 2,400-year-old mosaic of skeleton drinking wine, saying 'enjoy your life'

Archeologists discover 2,400 year old mosaic.
(Image credit: THOMAS OLIVA/AFP/Getty Images)

A delightful 2,400-year-old mosaic discovered in southern Turkey might very well be the original YOLO. In ruins originally uncovered in 2012, archaeologists have found tiles that depict a skeleton reclining with a pitcher of wine and loaf of bread alongside Greek text that reads, "Be cheerful, enjoy your life."

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Archaeologist Demet Kara told Daily Sabah that the mosaic was located in the dining room of an upper class house from the 3rd century B.C. While a similar mosaic has been seen in Italy, the cheerful skeleton is the first of its kind to have been found in Turkey.

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.