Toasting History: 500 Years of Wine Drinking in Ancient Greece

Connolly & Dodge, "The Ancient City," Oxford University Press, 1998, p. 52.

A rendering of what a symposium (the ancient world's ultimate cocktail party) looked like. The symposium was an all-male drinking event. where a small group of friends got together to drink - a lot.

Courtesy of the trustees of the British Museum, website.

A depiction of a symposium scene on a Kylix cup (from about 600 BC)

An image of an Iron Age grave marker in the form of a wine and water mixing vessel used at the symposia.

An image of Iron Age wine drinking cups.

Courtesy of the excavations of the Athenian Agora

An image of a Kylix cup, which served as the basic wine drinking cup for more than 200 years.

Courtesy of the trustees of the British Museum,

An image of a Siana cup, which was used about 550 BC.

An image of a Lip cup, named for the elegant lip to the cup.

An image of a Band cup, named for the decorate band on the bowl.

An image of a Droop cup.

Courtesy of the excacations of the Athenian Agora

An image of clay cups made to emulate the qualities of metal cups.

An image of a clay (terra cotta) cup made to emulate the qualities of a metal cup.

An image of clay cups that emulated metal forms but with handles designed for ceramics and thus, sturdier.

An image of clay cups that emulated metal forms with upswung handles.