Symposium

Term (Greek sympósĭon; Latin symposium) for a drinking event with moderate, controlled consumption of wine accompanied by witty conversation, jokes, songs, music, games and performances in ancient Greece. The earliest mentions of it come from the poet Xenophanes (570-470) from the 6th century BC, as well as from the historian Herodotus (482-425 BC) and the philosopher Plato (428/427-348/347 BC), who described the rules in his law book "Nomoi". The custom spread from Greece to Rome and Italy and was widespread until the end of antiquity, especially among the wealthy.

Drinking together and socialising

The Greek term means "communal, social drinking". However, this should not just be understood as a boisterous drinking and eating binge, as the focus was on communal, godly, ritualised and civilised conviviality. The picture shows the famous almost 3 x 6 metre painting "Symposion" by the German painter Anselm Feuerbach (1829-1880), which he completed in 1869. It was inspired by the ancient text "Symposium", in which the Greek philosopher Plato (428/427-348/347 BC) analysed the nature of Eros. Prominent participants in the symposium shown in the picture included the comic poet Aristophanes (450-380 BC) and the philosopher Socrates (470-399 BC). The seated Socrates turns his back to the scene and bows his head.

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