The Aesthetics of the Greek Banquet: Images of Wine and Ritual

by François Lissarrague, Andrew Szegedy-Maszak (Translator)

In deepening our understanding of the symposium in ancient Greece, this book embodies the wit and play of the images it those decorating Athenian drinking vessels from the sixth and fifth centuries B.C. The vases used at banquets often depict the actual drinkers who commissioned their production and convey the flowing together of wine, poetry, music, games, flirtation, and other elements that formed the complex structure of the banquet itself. A close reading of the objects handled by drinkers in the images reveals various metaphors, particularly that of wine as sea, all expressing a wide range of attitudes toward an ambiguous substance that brings cheer but may also cause harm.

Not only does this work offer an anthropological view of ancient Greece, but it explores a precise iconographic system. In so doing it will encourage and enrich further reflection on the role of the image in a given culture.

Originally published in 1990.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Genres: History, Art, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[Caleb Hegg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very well researched and the information is very useful for those looking into ancient Greek culture, the symposium, or the cult of dionysius.
There are many images and some of the discussion centers around the secmxual nature of the culture which may be too much for some readers. In My opinion it showed me how far the ancient Greek culture had fallen.
This book is heady and will not be for a lot of people but for those who are interested in the topic of wine in this setting it is a great reference book.