Symposium Flashcards
1
Q
What does ‘symposium’ mean?
A
‘To drink together’.
2
Q
Who took part in symposiums?
A
Men only, except for slave girls.
3
Q
Where were symposium’s held?
A
In the andron.
4
Q
Why were symposiums held? (At least 5 points)
A
- Business.
- To look for suitors for kids.
- To discuss politics/philosophy
- To get absolutely pissed and have sex with high class prostitutes (don’t put this in the exam…)
- Education of sons (find somewhere to do it/someone to do it)
- Male bonding
- Opportunity to relax
- Comradeship!
5
Q
Who held the symposium?
A
The kyrios.
6
Q
How did the kyrios prepare for a symposium? (5 points)
A
- Sent slaves out with invites.
- Bought food + wine (olives, pita bread, wine, olives…)
- Hired entertainers
- Decorated + set up andron (e.g. made sure people wouldn’t have back to door!)
- Guests greeted by slaves
7
Q
What kind of entertainment would there be at a symposium? (At least 5 points)
A
- Acrobats
- Dancers
- Drinking watered down wine (symposiarch decided how watered down it was)
- Hetairai/prostitutes
- Intellectual debates
- Jugglers
- Kottabos (wine-dreg flicking game)
- Mimes
- Music
