It is often said that during the Classical Period, Athens was one of the most sophisticated societies. James Davidson's Courtesans & Fishcakes: The Consuming Passions of Classical Athens, explores Athens’s passion for food, drinking, and sex and the reasons behind their sophistication. I tend to discuss James Davidson ability to provide ample examples and abstract language in order to give the reader a detailed description of classical Athenian culture. Indeed, James Davidson does a great job of describing the Athenian culture and the many connotations associated with the culture, but what really separates this book from others is the author's ability to include opposing arguments and even going so far as to pick a side. Nevertheless, the author
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When it came to Athenian culture drinking was a way of life, particularly the consumption of wine. James Davidson does a great job of conveying to the reader the importance of wine to Athenian culture. Wine was often consumed at Symposiums and Taverns. The author describes the Symposium as a place of fellowship and celebration of the upper class, while a Tavern was a place in which anyone, typically lower class consumed alcohol. Some have the perception that the Symposium was a time when the rich and powerful would come together and binge drink. Although the symposium was an exclusive event the author does a great job explaining its purpose by claiming that the Symposium was an event in which bonds were formed, wine was appreciated, and poetry was read. The purpose of wine at the symposium was to create an atmosphere of euphoria where one could speak their mind more freely (LOC 1125). The wine was consumed by many societies, but Davidson elaborates on what makes wine the symbol of Athenian society by discussing the fellowship of the Symposium, as well as the mixing of water with wine, separated the Athenians from Barbarians (1042). Therefore, Davidson is again effective in his reasoning that to Athenians wine was considered a symbol, rather than a drink used to become
When it came to Athenian culture drinking was a way of life, particularly the consumption of wine. James Davidson does a great job of conveying to the reader the importance of wine to Athenian culture. Wine was often consumed at Symposiums and Taverns. The author describes the Symposium as a place of fellowship and celebration of the upper class, while a Tavern was a place in which anyone, typically lower class consumed alcohol. Some have the perception that the Symposium was a time when the rich and powerful would come together and binge drink. Although the symposium was an exclusive event the author does a great job explaining its purpose by claiming that the Symposium was an event in which bonds were formed, wine was appreciated, and poetry was read. The purpose of wine at the symposium was to create an atmosphere of euphoria where one could speak their mind more freely (LOC 1125). The wine was consumed by many societies, but Davidson elaborates on what makes wine the symbol of Athenian society by discussing the fellowship of the Symposium, as well as the mixing of water with wine, separated the Athenians from Barbarians (1042). Therefore, Davidson is again effective in his reasoning that to Athenians wine was considered a symbol, rather than a drink used to become