Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks

150 Daily Life of the Ancient Greeks
Greek writers even compiled books of symposiastic laws, though
none has survived. The philosopher Theophrastos (ca. 372–288
b.c.e. ), however, provides us with a number of instances of bad
form. It was, he tells us, the mark of an uneducated lout to drop
his cup while the rest of the company was at prayer and burst out
laughing, to tap or whistle in accompaniment to the flute girl, or to
spit across the table at the wine pourer.
The enforcement of the rules was in the hands of the symposiarch,
or master of drinking. The ideal symposiarch, according to Plutarch,
had to be “the quintessence of conviviality,” neither inclined
to drunkenness nor averse to drinking. He had to be aware how
each of his fellow symposiasts was affected by wine in order to
determine what was conducive to the promotion of good cheer. He
needed to be cordial and affable.
Election to this office was made on the throw of dice, which meant
that it generally fell to one of the guests. The symposiarch had the
authority to inflict a penalty on any drinker who infringed the rules.
In exceptional circumstances, he could even order a guest to depart.
Because the Greeks drank diluted wine, his inaugural duty was to
determine the proportion of parts of wine to water—an important
decision that would affect the tone of the whole evening. In addition,
he decreed how many cups should be drunk, since only on rare
occasions, as at Agathon’s symposium, were symposiasts permitted
to drink as much or as little as they wished. The purpose behind
this rule was to ensure that everyone attained approximately the
same degree of inebriation. Finally, the symposiarch proposed the
entertainment and fixed penalties for those who failed to distinguish
themselves in the games and competitions.
Despite these precautions, however, much no doubt happened
that was not in accordance with the rules. A popular Greek saying,
“I hate a drinker with a good memory,” suggests that whatever was
said or done by a symposiast when under the influence of alcohol
was not to be held against him when he sobered up. What happened
in Vegas, in other words, was expected to stay in Vegas.
Serving the Wine
For everyday use, the Greeks drank out of undecorated glazed
mugs. The well-to-do, however, possessed a special set of drinking
cups and wine containers, which they reserved for use at a symposium.
Basic drinking equipment included a dozen or so kylikes or
drinking mugs, a kratêr or mixing bowl, a psychtêr or wine cooler,