Snails, Snails, Snails!

In Crete, we have encountered a number of unusual new industries, which appear to be commonplace.  Snail farming is one such example.  No, we haven't gone to one (yet), but I'm not sure it is necessary.  While visiting Tylissos, we saw thousands, making my unrealized Buddhist sensitivities cringe with the potential implications of each step.

So, this will be an ongoing post of "animals in unusual places".  Here, I give you, snails on an archaeological site.

First contact.  This was the first shell I spotted, and had it not been inhabited, it might have been a souvenir.  We'll call him Bob.

Practicing a tightrope act.

Ornamenting some wild rosemary.

Yep.  No idea what the motivation is here.

Two parties on an ancient wall.

I also learned that the collective noun for a group of snails can be either a rout, a walk or an escargatoire.  I think I shall embrace the last as it sounds like they are about to meet their ultimate purpose as part of a traditional Cretan dish.

UPDATE!!!  More snails, this time on a tree trunk!