Ancient Greece: Difference between revisions

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'''Ancient Greece''' was a formative civilisation in the history of [[wine]], establishing practices of viticulture, trade, and cultural use that shaped the Mediterranean and beyond. Wine in Greece held social, religious, and economic significance, and many of its traditions influenced later Roman and European developments.<ref>Phillips, ''A Short History of Wine'', HarperCollins, 2000, pp. 27–38, ISBN 978-0066212821.</ref>

'''Ancient Greece''' was a formative civilisation in the history of [[wine]], establishing practices of [[viticulture]], trade, and cultural use that shaped the [[Mediterranean]] and beyond. Wine in [[Greece]] held social, religious, and economic significance, and many of its traditions influenced later Roman and European developments.<ref>Phillips, ''A Short History of Wine'', HarperCollins, 2000, pp. 27–38, ISBN 978-0066212821.</ref>

== Background ==

Viticulture in Ancient Greece expanded from earlier traditions of the [[Near East]], with evidence of wine production by the second millennium BCE.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine: An Historical Geography of Viticulture and the Wine Trade'', Routledge, 1991, pp. 98–104, ISBN 978-0415075370.</ref> By the classical period, wine was an established staple of Greek diet and commerce, traded widely throughout the Aegean and Mediterranean. Amphorae recovered from shipwrecks and archaeological sites illustrate the extent of this trade, with exports reaching Egypt, Southern Italy, and the Black Sea region.<ref>Mazar, ''Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, 10,000–586 B.C.E.'', Doubleday, 1990, p. 447, ISBN 978-0385423091.</ref>

Viticulture in Ancient Greece expanded from earlier traditions of the [[Near East]], with evidence of [[wine production]] by the second millennium BCE.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine: An Historical Geography of Viticulture and the Wine Trade'', Routledge, 1991, pp. 98–104, ISBN 978-0415075370.</ref> By the classical period, wine was an established staple of Greek diet and commerce, traded widely throughout the [[Aegean]] and Mediterranean. [[Amphorae]] recovered from shipwrecks and archaeological sites illustrate the extent of this trade, with exports reaching [[Egypt]], Southern [[Italy]], and the Black Sea region.<ref>Mazar, ''Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, 10,000–586 B.C.E.'', Doubleday, 1990, p. 447, ISBN 978-0385423091.</ref>

== Viticulture and winemaking ==

Greek viticulture was adapted to the varied landscapes of the peninsula and islands, often on terraced hillsides. Vineyards were managed with attention to pruning and soil care, though techniques remained rudimentary compared to modern methods.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', Routledge, 1991, p. 112.</ref> Grapes were pressed by foot or with simple mechanical devices, and wines were frequently stored and transported in clay amphorae sealed with resin, a practice that influenced the later style of retsina.<ref>Dalby, ''Siren Feasts: A History of Food and Gastronomy in Greece'', Routledge, 1996, p. 76, ISBN 978-0415122319.</ref>

Greek viticulture was adapted to the varied landscapes of the peninsula and islands, often on terraced hillsides. [[Vineyard|Vineyards]] were managed with attention to [[pruning]] and [[soil]] care, though techniques remained rudimentary compared to modern methods.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', Routledge, 1991, p. 112.</ref> [[Grapes]] were pressed by foot or with simple mechanical devices, and wines were frequently stored and transported in clay amphorae sealed with resin, a practice that influenced the later style of retsina.<ref>Dalby, ''Siren Feasts: A History of Food and Gastronomy in Greece'', Routledge, 1996, p. 76, ISBN 978-0415122319.</ref>

Wine was often diluted with water before consumption, a convention that distinguished Greek practice from that of neighbouring peoples. The blending of herbs and aromatics was also recorded, reflecting a view of wine as both a pleasure and a medicinal product.<ref>Detienne, ''Les Jardins d’Adonis: La mythologie des aromates en Grèce'', Gallimard, 1972, pp. 45–47, ISBN 978-2070294000.</ref>

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Wine occupied a central place in Greek social and religious life. The symposium, a formalised drinking gathering, combined wine with intellectual discourse, poetry, and music.<ref>Phillips, ''A Short History of Wine'', 2000, p. 35.</ref> Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy, was a central figure in Greek religion and myth, with festivals such as the Dionysia celebrating his cult through ritual drinking and theatre.<ref>Dalby, ''Siren Feasts'', 1996, pp. 83–85.</ref>

Wine was also a marker of cultural identity: diluted wine symbolised moderation and civilisation, in contrast to the perceived excesses of “barbarian” drinking customs. The Greek traditions of viticulture and symposium were later absorbed and adapted by [[~~Ancient Rome~~]], ensuring their continuity into the wider Mediterranean world.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', 1991, p. 121.</ref>

Wine was also a marker of cultural identity: diluted wine symbolised moderation and civilisation, in contrast to the perceived excesses of “barbarian” drinking customs. The Greek traditions of viticulture and symposium were later absorbed and adapted by the [[Roman Era|Romans]], ensuring their continuity into the wider Mediterranean world.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', 1991, p. 121.</ref>

== See also ==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Ancient Greece''' was a formative civilisation in the history of [[wine]], establishing practices of viticulture, trade, and cultural use that shaped the Mediterranean and beyond. Wine in Greece held social, religious, and economic significance, and many of its traditions influenced later Roman and European developments.<ref>Phillips, ''A Short History of Wine'', HarperCollins, 2000, pp. 27–38, ISBN 978-0066212821.</ref>
+'''Ancient Greece''' was a formative civilisation in the history of [[wine]], establishing practices of [[viticulture]], trade, and cultural use that shaped the [[Mediterranean]] and beyond. Wine in [[Greece]] held social, religious, and economic significance, and many of its traditions influenced later Roman and European developments.<ref>Phillips, ''A Short History of Wine'', HarperCollins, 2000, pp. 27–38, ISBN 978-0066212821.</ref>
 == Background ==
-Viticulture in Ancient Greece expanded from earlier traditions of the [[Near East]], with evidence of wine production by the second millennium BCE.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine: An Historical Geography of Viticulture and the Wine Trade'', Routledge, 1991, pp. 98–104, ISBN 978-0415075370.</ref> By the classical period, wine was an established staple of Greek diet and commerce, traded widely throughout the Aegean and Mediterranean. Amphorae recovered from shipwrecks and archaeological sites illustrate the extent of this trade, with exports reaching Egypt, Southern Italy, and the Black Sea region.<ref>Mazar, ''Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, 10,000–586 B.C.E.'', Doubleday, 1990, p. 447, ISBN 978-0385423091.</ref>
+Viticulture in Ancient Greece expanded from earlier traditions of the [[Near East]], with evidence of [[wine production]] by the second millennium BCE.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine: An Historical Geography of Viticulture and the Wine Trade'', Routledge, 1991, pp. 98–104, ISBN 978-0415075370.</ref> By the classical period, wine was an established staple of Greek diet and commerce, traded widely throughout the [[Aegean]] and Mediterranean. [[Amphorae]] recovered from shipwrecks and archaeological sites illustrate the extent of this trade, with exports reaching [[Egypt]], Southern [[Italy]], and the Black Sea region.<ref>Mazar, ''Archaeology of the Land of the Bible, 10,000–586 B.C.E.'', Doubleday, 1990, p. 447, ISBN 978-0385423091.</ref>
 == Viticulture and winemaking ==
-Greek viticulture was adapted to the varied landscapes of the peninsula and islands, often on terraced hillsides. Vineyards were managed with attention to pruning and soil care, though techniques remained rudimentary compared to modern methods.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', Routledge, 1991, p. 112.</ref> Grapes were pressed by foot or with simple mechanical devices, and wines were frequently stored and transported in clay amphorae sealed with resin, a practice that influenced the later style of retsina.<ref>Dalby, ''Siren Feasts: A History of Food and Gastronomy in Greece'', Routledge, 1996, p. 76, ISBN 978-0415122319.</ref>
+Greek viticulture was adapted to the varied landscapes of the peninsula and islands, often on terraced hillsides. [[Vineyard|Vineyards]] were managed with attention to [[pruning]] and [[soil]] care, though techniques remained rudimentary compared to modern methods.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', Routledge, 1991, p. 112.</ref> [[Grapes]] were pressed by foot or with simple mechanical devices, and wines were frequently stored and transported in clay amphorae sealed with resin, a practice that influenced the later style of retsina.<ref>Dalby, ''Siren Feasts: A History of Food and Gastronomy in Greece'', Routledge, 1996, p. 76, ISBN 978-0415122319.</ref>
 Wine was often diluted with water before consumption, a convention that distinguished Greek practice from that of neighbouring peoples. The blending of herbs and aromatics was also recorded, reflecting a view of wine as both a pleasure and a medicinal product.<ref>Detienne, ''Les Jardins d’Adonis: La mythologie des aromates en Grèce'', Gallimard, 1972, pp. 45–47, ISBN 978-2070294000.</ref>
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 Wine occupied a central place in Greek social and religious life. The symposium, a formalised drinking gathering, combined wine with intellectual discourse, poetry, and music.<ref>Phillips, ''A Short History of Wine'', 2000, p. 35.</ref> Dionysus, the god of wine and ecstasy, was a central figure in Greek religion and myth, with festivals such as the Dionysia celebrating his cult through ritual drinking and theatre.<ref>Dalby, ''Siren Feasts'', 1996, pp. 83–85.</ref>
-Wine was also a marker of cultural identity: diluted wine symbolised moderation and civilisation, in contrast to the perceived excesses of “barbarian” drinking customs. The Greek traditions of viticulture and symposium were later absorbed and adapted by [[Ancient Rome]], ensuring their continuity into the wider Mediterranean world.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', 1991, p. 121.</ref>
+Wine was also a marker of cultural identity: diluted wine symbolised moderation and civilisation, in contrast to the perceived excesses of “barbarian” drinking customs. The Greek traditions of viticulture and symposium were later absorbed and adapted by the [[Roman Era|Romans]], ensuring their continuity into the wider Mediterranean world.<ref>Unwin, ''Wine and the Vine'', 1991, p. 121.</ref>
 == See also ==