Greek Wine History Research Paper

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Beer was a common drink while wine was seen as “exotic” and “foreign (46).” Because wine had to be imported from mountains of the northeast, it was ten times more expensive than beer and in meager supply. While beer had many additional uses like a form of currency and medicine, wine was mainly used in religion as its high status was fit for the gods and bought almost exclusively by the elite such as King Ashurnasirpal II of Assyria. Therefore, it became “emblems of power, prosperity and privilege (47).” However, wine became more popular, trade and production increased, price decreased and became available to more people. Although, it was still expensive in non-wine producing areas like Mesopotamia where commoners drank date-palm wine instead, replacing beer as the highest status beverage.
6. How and why did wine develop into a form of a status symbol in Greece? …show more content…

The age, origin, type of wine one drinks determined how civilized that person was. The Greeks distinguished themselves from foreigners who were seen as inferior. In Greek opinion, mixing wine with water, especially at symposia, to control intoxication levels was much more proper compared to nondrinkers or barbarians who drank beer or unmixed wine. Since wine was very prominent in symposia, where intellectual discussions and sophisticated topics thrived in the search of truth, wine represented Greek wealth, civilized ways and culture as it spread by

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