The Rise of the Greek Aristocratic Banquet

In The Rise of the Greek Aristocratic Banquet , Wecowski offers a comprehensive account of the origins of the symposion and its close relationship with the rise of the Greek city-state or polis . Broadly defined as a culture-oriented aristocratic banquet, the symposion--which literally means 'drinking together'--was a nocturnal wine party held by Greek aristocrats from Homer to Alexander the Great. Its distinctive feature was the crucial importance of diverse cultural competitions, including improvising convivial poetry, among the guests. Cultural skills and abilities were a prerequisite in order for one to be included in elite drinking circles, and, as such, the symposion served as a forum for the natural selection of Greek aristocracy. Cover 1 The Rise of the Greek Aristocratic Banquet 4 Copyright 5 Dedication 6 Preface and Acknowledgements 8 Contents 12 List of Illustrations 14 List of Maps 17 List of Abbreviations 18 Introduction 28 0.1 AN OUTLINE OF SYMPOTIC STUDIES 28 0.2 SYMPOSION IN PERSPECTIVE: SOME METHODOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS 31 0.3 ENTERING THE SYMPOSION: THE HISTORICAL UNITY OF THE GREEK ARISTOCRATIC BANQUET 34 0.4 APPENDIX I : TYPOLOGIES OF THE FEAST: TWO THEORETICAL MODELS 39 I: Defining the Symposion 44 1: Early Greek Aristocracy and the Symposion 46 1.1 THE NATURE OF ARCHAIC GREEK ARISTOCRACY 46 1.1.1 What is Early Greek Aristocracy? 46 1.1.2 The Equal and the More Equal in the Archaic City 48 1.1.3 A Precarious Élite 50 1.2 DESCRIBING THE SYMPOSION: A WORKING HYPOTHESIS 54 1.2.1 Terminology of the Symposion 54 1.2.2 Organization of the Symposion: Its Framework and Participants 55 1.2.3 Organization of the Symposion: Ceremony and Entertainment 62 1.3 SYMPOSION AND ARISTOCRACY: SOCIAL REALITIES AND GROUP-IDEALS 82 1.3.1 Sympotic Inequalities in Action 82 1.3.2 Sympotic Dreams of Equality 92 1.4 CONCLUSIONS: THE NATURE AND SOCIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE ARISTOCRATIC BANQUET 101 1.4.1 Symposion and the Natural Selection of the Archaic Aristocracy 101 1.4.2 Symposion as a Type of Feast 105 1.5 APPENDIX II: SEX AND THE SYMPOSION 108 2: Towards a Definition of the Symposion 112 2.1 ‘REJOICE WHILE THE CUP GOES CIRCLING ROUND!’ 112 2.1.1 The Circulating Cup and the Organization of the Symposion 112 2.1.2 The Ritual Origins of the Epidexia Practice 123 2.2 ‘ANTI-SYMPOSIA’ IN GREEK THOUGHT 124 2.2.1 The Circulating Cup and the `Anti-Symposion ́ 124 2.2.2 The Drinking Contest of the Anthesteria Festival in Athens 130 2.2.3 Andreia, Cretan Public Messes 135 2.2.4 Spartan Syssitia, Xenophanes ́ Symposion, and the Banquets of Cleomenes III 138 2.3 CONCLUSIONS: TOWARDS A NEW DEFINITION OF THE SYMPOSION 144 2.3.1 Symposion and the Reclining Party in Greek Sympotic Imagery 144 2.3.2 Defining the Symposion: The Circulating Cup and the Social Dynamics of the Aristocratic Banquet 148 II: The Symposion and History 152 3: The `Cup of Nestor ́, the Near East, and the Early Archaic Symposion 154 3.1 The `Cup of Nestor ́ and the Symposion 154 3.1.1 The First Convivial Poem of the Greeks 154 3.1.2 The `Cup of Nestor ́, the Epidexia Rule, and Élite Banqueting at Pithekoussai 161 3.1.3 The `Cup of Nestor ́ and the Late Geometric Symposion 165 3.2 Symposion and the Near East 166 3.2.1 Pithekoussan Banquets between East and West 166 3.2.2 Symposion and the Iconography of the Levantine Feast 168 3.2.3 Symposion and the Levantine Marzēa-Parallels and Contrasts 177 3.3 The Reclining Banquet and Early Sympotic Architecture 186 3.3.1 Archilochus, Kallinos, and the Chronology of the Reclining Banquet in the Aegean 186 3.3.2 Chronology of the Reclining Banquet in Non-Greek Italy 193 3.3.3 The Earliest Sympotic Architecture: An Hypothesis 195 3.4 Conclusions: The Nature of the Symposion in the Late eighth and Early seventh Century bc 214 3.4.1 The Symposion at the Beginning of the Archaic Period 214 4: Homer, the `Heroic Feast ́, and the Symposion 218 4.1 Introduction: How to Read the `Homeric Feast ́? 218 4.1.1 Introductory Remarks 218 4.1.2 `Poetic Registers ́ of the Iliad and Odyssey 220 4.2 The Heroic Banquet and the Symposion 223 4.2.1 Heroic Feast: Terminology and General Problems 223 4.2.2 Time Frame and Overall Organization 230 4.2.3 Ceremony, Participants, Entertainment 233 4.2.4 The Heroic Feast as a Social Event 238 4.3 The Symposion in Homer 241 4.3.1 Sympotic Realities in Homer 241 4.3.2 Sympotic Pleasures and Luxurious Lifestyle in Homer 244 4.3.3 The Backstage Symposion in Homer 249 4.3.4 Banquets of the Suitors and the Symposion 252 4.4 Conclusions: Homer, Symposion, and History 262 4.4.1 Dais, Geras, and the Polis-On the Historicity of the `Heroic Feast ́ 262 4.4.2 Dionysus and the Poet, or Homer Reflecting on the Symposion 266 4.4.3 The Iliad and the Odyssey as Witnesses to the History of the Symposion 274 5: The Symposion and Archaeology Up to the Early Seventh Century bc 276 5.1 Introduction: Wine for the Dead and Wine for the Living 276 5.2 An Historical Signpost: The `Cup of Nestor ́ in its Euboean Context 278 5.2.1 The `Cup of Nestor ́, the Symposion, and Late Geometric Euboean Funerary Customs 278 5.2.2 Pithekoussai, Kyme, Eretria-The `Princes ́ and the Aristocrats of the Euboean World (Eighth and Seventh Century bc) 285 5.2.3 Lefkandí and Protogeometric Euboean Funerary Rites Pertaining to Wine Drinking 293 5.3 Toward a Wider Historical Context: Geometric Athens and the Aegean 298 5.3.1 Monumental Wine Containers as Grave Markers in Geometric Athens 298 5.3.2 Athenian Grave Goods of the Geometric Period and the Emergence of the Symposion 302 5.3.3 The Early Symposion and Archaeology in the Aegean 315 5.4 A `Symposion Effect ́ in the Mediterranean? 321 5.4.1 The Symposion and Aristocratic Gift Exchange in the Mediterranean 321 5.4.2 The Levant, Cyprus, and Italy. Problems of Interpretation 322 5.4.3 An Anti-Sympotic Reaction in Crete? 326 6: Conclusions and Implications: The Symposion, Aristocracy, and the Rise of the Polis 330 6.1 Preliminary Remarks 330 6.2 The Greek City, Aristocracy, and the Circulating Cup 333 6.3 Homer-The Symposion and the New Élite 335 6.4 Hypothesis: The Dark Ages, the Rise of the Polis, and the Birth of Greek Aristocracy 345 Bibliography 364 Subject Index 406 Index of Primary Sources 414 In This Book Wecowski Offers A Comprehensive Account Of The Origins Of The Symposion And Its Close Relationship With The Rise Of The Greek City-state Or Polis. Broadly Defined As A Culture-oriented Aristocratic Banquet, The Symposion - Which Literally Means 'drinking Together' - Was A Nocturnal Wine Party Held By Greek Aristocrats From Homer To Alexander The Great. Its Distinctive Feature Was The Crucial Importance Of Diverse Cultural Competitions, Including Improvising Convivial Poetry, Among The Guests. Cultural Skills And Abilities Were A Prerequisite In Order For One To Be Included In Elite Drinking Circles, And, As Such, The Symposion Served As A Forum For The Natural Selection Of Greek Aristocracy. 1. Early Greek Aristocracy And The Symposion -- 2. Towards A Definition Of The Symposion -- 3. The `cup Of Nestor', The Near East, And The Early Archaic Symposion -- 4. Homer, The `heroic Feast', And The Symposion -- 5. The Symposion And Archaeology Up To The Early Seventh Century Bc -- 6. Conclusions And Implications: The Symposion, Aristocracy, And The Rise Of The Polis. Marek Wecowski. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [337]-377) And Indexes.