Strata: What Is It?

A. Incense burner

B. Bird bath

C. Cult stand

D. Turntable

E. Pedestal

Answer: (A) Incense burner

Pulled up from the ocean floor, this thymiaterion—or incense burner—was found last September by an expedition that explored a first-century shipwreck off the coast of Panarea, one of the Aeolian Islands in the Tyrrhenian Sea near Sicily.

During voyages, sailors would offer sacrifices on altars in an attempt to incur a blessing, appease their gods or express gratitude. In this case, they burned incense in the basin of the altar.

Rituals took place at departure, arrival and throughout the voyage.

The thymiaterion was retrieved by divers in two pieces. A Greek inscription of three letters (ETH) is on the base, and a decoration of waves goes around the edge of the basin.

A joint mission between the Sicilian Sea Superintendency, Global Underwater Explorers (GUE) and Brownie’s Global Logistics (BGL) recovered the artifact.