flipHoneyed wine of the symposion
Honeyed wine of the symposion
Why this dish? After the meal comes the symposion, where a libation is first poured to the gods before drinking. Athena, measured goddess, presided over wine always cut with water: drinking it pure was considered barbaric. This wine sweetened with honey evokes the reasoned conviviality she inspires.
Wine cut with water and sweetened with honey, scented with a little thyme. The drink of the Greek banquet, served from the krater after the libation to the gods. Always diluted — never drunk pure.
Now that you have eaten, listen, mortal: one does not drink wine pure like lawless peoples. Pour it into the great krater, drown it with water, sweeten it with a little honey and a sprig of thyme. But first, spill the first cup to the ground in my honor and that of the gods. Then drink with measure, speak well, and you will know the only intoxication I approve: that of fine words.
- •Wine — one measure (base of the drink)
- •Spring water — two to three measures (ritual dilution)
- •Honey — to taste (sweetness)
- •Thyme or mint — a sprig (aromatic)
Honeyed wine of the symposion
Wine cut with water and sweetened with honey, scented with a little thyme. The drink of the Greek banquet, served from the krater after the libation to the gods. Always diluted — never drunk pure.
Why this dish? After the meal comes the symposion, where a libation is first poured to the gods before drinking. Athena, measured goddess, presided over wine always cut with water: drinking it pure was considered barbaric. This wine sweetened with honey evokes the reasoned conviviality she inspires.
Now that you have eaten, listen, mortal: one does not drink wine pure like lawless peoples. Pour it into the great krater, drown it with water, sweeten it with a little honey and a sprig of thyme. But first, spill the first cup to the ground in my honor and that of the gods. Then drink with measure, speak well, and you will know the only intoxication I approve: that of fine words.
Ingredients (period version)
- Wine — one measure (base of the drink)
- Spring water — two to three measures (ritual dilution)
- Honey — to taste (sweetness)
- Thyme or mint — a sprig (aromatic)
Ingredients
- Red wine — 200 ml (base of the drink)
- Water — 300 ml (ritual dilution)
- Honey — 2 tbsp (sweetness)
- Fresh thyme — 1 sprig (aromatic)
Method
- Warm the water slightly and dissolve the honey in it.
- Add the thyme sprig and let infuse 5 minutes, then remove.
- Mix this light syrup with the wine in a large vessel (the krater).
- Adjust dilution to taste (Greeks used up to 1 part wine to 3 parts water).
- Serve cool or room temperature in shallow cups.
How it was made : At the symposion, wine was systematically mixed with water in a krater, in varying proportions; drinking it pure was considered excessive and 'barbaric'. It was sometimes flavored with honey, spices, or herbs. A non-alcoholic version can replace wine with grape juice diluted with water and honey.
The contemporary twist : Serve chilled in a terracotta pitcher, dubbed 'Athena's krater', with a thyme sprig as a stirrer.
Sources : François Lissarrague, Un flot d'images. Une esthétique du banquet grec, Adam Biro, 1987 · Homer, Odyssey (libations and mixed wine)
Athena · Charactorium
