lesson 5 Flashcards
in ancient greece what was a symposium
drinking together; a social event that took place after the end of a banquet (no food involved)
what did a symposium in ancient greece include
several entertainments but most important cultivating conversation, cobattos, ivy wreaths (Dionysian attribute), music, Hetairai
what did an ancient greek symposium become
the name of a literary genre reproducing such conversations
what is an example of the literary genre reproducing the conversations of ancient greek symposiums
Plato’s Symposium, a dialogue dedicated to theme of love
cobattos
wine- throwing game
who was allowed in an ancient greek symposium?
only males, only women allowed were Hetairai
Hetairai
highly educated prostitutes giving both sexual and intellectual entertainment
A poem by Eubulus
4 century BCE; talked about how 3 kraters was the recommended for a symposium of ~11 participants (usual number)
Anacreon
c. 582 BCE - c. 485; Teos (now Sigacik, Turkey), among first lyric poets; also wrote serious poems but mostly known for his light poetry about love and wine that was widely imitated until Middle Ages
where do lyric poets/poems come from?
the word lyre
The Ancreontea
a collection of a few dozen of these apocrypha (imitations) that were believed to be original for a long time
apocrypha
imitations
ODE XV (tr. Thomas Moore 1900): an Ancreontea
he wants a cup engraved without religious ceremonies of animal sacrifice/tragedy but themes of heaven and love
cup is a metaphor for his own peotry - he doesn’t want war, tragedy, etc to be in his poetry but love/heaven
analysis of full ODE XV
opening: lets chill, attitude, time to relax and enjoy
the “devouring time”: time passes and destroys as it goes
no chance to have fun after death: “now” is the time
“oh she will teach me how to die”: a not very subtle doubt entendre
“I will make my own Elysium here”: and “here” is the place
wine in the new testament
jesus turning water into wine - first miracle
ancient rome influences
combo of greek and etruscan
ancient greek influences on ancient rome
named Italian peninsula Oenotina (land of wine
ancien greece influences on ancient rome manifested in
name of grape varieties (Greco, Grecanico, Malvasia)
viticultural techniques like the ‘alberello’ pruning system
wine styles (ex. dried-grape wine)
‘alberello’ pruning system
starts with small trunk and once a year it gets cut down until vine eventually grows into a thick trunk
which pruning system did ancient greece influence for ancient rome
‘alberello’ pruning system
what pruning system did etrusian influence for ancient rome?
the ‘alberat’/’vite maritata’ training method
the ‘alberat’/’vite maritata’ training method
grape vine is grown on other trees
Campania used _________ for __________
the ‘alberat’/’vite maritata’ training method, Asprinio
The Convivium
food and wine were consumed together, women and child participated
Triclinium
the Roman dining room, 3 couches (for up to 3 people each), around 3 sides of a low table
why were there only three sides of seats for Roman Triclimium?
So servants could come and go with food and wine
How much did Romans drink?
inscriptions from AD153 say 9 sextarii wine per day (~1,780 l/year) for seniors, 2 for juniors (it is currently 50 l/year)
Romans gave proof of a ______, due to
a deeper interest in varieties of wine, amount in Italy at the time
Horace (Quintus Horatius Fiaccus) 1st Century BC
with Vergil, belonged to circle of Maecenas (political adviser), supporter of new Imperial power Octaviam Augustus
what was Horace deemed
greatest Roman author of Lyric peotry, in particular his Odes
what was Horace influenced by
Greek Lyric peotry and late greek (hellenistic) though, Epicureanism
Epicureanism
a materialistic philosphy based on teachings of Epicurus, aimed at promoting enjoyment of life by means of a moderate hedonism - goal is ataraxia
ataraxia
lack of worries, peace of mind
Carpe Diem (Seize the Day) - Horace
the poet directly addresses a “you”, Leuconoes, the horoscope does not say we are going to die: zooming in technique from general, abstract hypothesis to “here and now”
let’s stop talking and enjoy this moment
we don’t know when we are going to die and we shouldn’t, could be in a long time or now, there’s a storm right now, stop talking, pour wine and enjoy the moment because time is lost while we talk
