"pothos", Alexander's drinking

canto · Post by **canto** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 4:15 pm

when I found this site I learned what "pothos" meant. I like the word. As a child I felt longing as I walked through the woods and along the creek to see what was at the next hill or valley. I would love some day to visit Greece and the landscapes around. but for now, I read ... I read a lot. finding this group is great. Its not everyone you can talk to about Alexander. One of my sisters is pretty indulgent with me, the other one justs gets that look that says she can't stand it anymore.
About Alexander's drinking, it seems some writers like to play it up. I read that the heavy drinking was a trait of the Macedonians. It seems they received the wine at the beginning of a meal before their stomachs had anything in it to slow down absorption of the liquor. And it was the social thing to do. Alexander loved to talk and drinking would go hand in hand. Also many campaigns took them were safe water was unattainable.
I will have to buy some of the videos mentioned. Thanks for the info.

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 2:31 am

They did have a reputation for enjoying the fruits of Dionysos but generally wine was mixed with water. When they got to the East, that's where they ran into trouble with tainted water, and began to drink the wine neat.

smittysmitty · Post by **smittysmitty** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:29 am

Hi Ruth, I've not read that before, I was of the impression they always drank their wine neat.Good one Ruth, do you mind me asking where you read that information?many thanks cheers!

xxx · Post by **xxx** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 7:55 am

Macedonians always drank their wine straight, not mixed with water.

f9bob · Post by **f9bob** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 3:20 am

I think ,I will help you on such a dificult question-ha,ha,ha.
White have been drinked with water,but mineral water with natural CO2.It is there some proof,of course.In near every
grave there are findings of property of deceased and there are 2 ceramic glases for drinking wine.
http://www.nepokor.org/Nepokor/Arhiv/casisamoil.html
Now for red,there are abundance of historical informations that they have drinked red wine straight only before meal.I suspect that they have stoped drinking during,and after the meal.This is only posible solution for discrepancy in actual findings and historical resurces.
I have to say for Rose(Macedonian rose grape-Brain wine) wine,my thinking is that this have been wine of choice of young Macedonians because of low level of Alchochol drinked straight.For older there are information on old wariety Cartosia and with similar name is in primary sources.It is dark red wine with strong taste and specific smell.

ruthaki · Post by **ruthaki** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 5:05 am

Well I know that I have read (in my research or ???) that they mixed the wine but at this moment I do not have time to browse my research. Sorry. Leaving for Cuba... quite a different scene. Rum, instead of wine. I'll check it out when I am back. Ruthaki

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 7:20 am

Hi Ruth,Have fun in Cuba!One of the things that made the Macedonians stand apart from the Greeks was their inclination to drink wine unmixed.It is quite possible, of course, that at times they *did* mix it; but as a rule they didn't bother. I'm pretty sure, although I'm at my parent's house today so cannot check, that one of the points made about Callisthenes, in either Plutarch or Curtius, is that he disapproved of the Macedonians' drinking unmixed wine.All the bestMarcus

f9bob · Post by **f9bob** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 10:18 am

Of course that from historical sources we know that they have drinked straight wine ,before meal.But in graves we have found 2 glases and one is for wine ,other is for water.Not in all,but we have found that.I dont think that Macedonians have drinked dark red wine mixed with water,it is so bad even imposible and stupid to drink old red Grape variety vine mixed especialy from such climate like Macedonia .And i have not found any relation with some custom today.But there are in the Balcan peninsula culture to drink white wine mixed with Mineral water today, in summer time.It is great refreshment-something like cold beer and is not with dehidration post-symptoms what is totaly oposite of strong Red balcan wines.I found that red wine is more winter drink in that part of the world.In some areas there, during the winter time restaurants serve hot cooked red wine like tee.I dont beleve that somebody up till now have reconsidered that White-Red wine theory.I found another pecular think there .To produce good taste wine in the Balcans ,they produce wine from different warieties of Grapes mixed.That is oposite of drinking in the Western world where are price ,taste and look based on only one variety like Chardonie or Shiraz or Cabernet.

marcus · Post by **marcus** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 8:46 am

Hi Bodan,You're no doubt right in many respects. I'm not great expert on ancient viticulture, but I believe that the wine that was drunk in the ancient world was quite different from what we drink today - I do remember reading that it was either stronger or weaker than modern wine (I can't remember which).Anyway, as I said, I'm sure that at times they did mix their wine, which your point on archaeological finds might well confirm; but one shouldn't ignore the literary sources.Of one thing I'm sure - if all the Macedonians had to drink was Australian Chardonnay, then I reckon they would all have turned teetotal ... :-)All the bestMArcus

pothos.org

"pothos", Alexander's drinking

"pothos", Alexander's drinking

Macedonian's drinking habits

Re: Macedonian's drinking habits

Re: Macedonian's drinking habits

Re: Macedonian's drinking habits

Re: Macedonian's drinking habits

Neat or Mixed

Re: Neat or Mixed

Re: Neat or Mixed