There are only two kinds of writing in history - the blood of heroes and the wine of poets. However, when the heroes are unloading their military equipment and riding horses to the south, the rough hands that once firmly held the spears and shields are about to be kissed by the aroma of wine and delicious food. Put down the sword, raise the wine glass, and drink to your heart's content after three rounds. From the battlefield to the drinking den, the heroes are all light and capable; from the roar of Ares to the sound of Dionysus, they are favored by the gods and sing praises. The Homeric era was the era of heroes. After watching all the fighting and battles, we might as well take a look at their leisurely side and experience what it was like to gather in groups to party in that era.

1. Sacrifice

The High King Agamemnon took off his gorgeous feather-maned helmet and sat down in the leader's tent. The other heroes Menelaus and Yi Domenius, Odysseus and others attended and sat down. The brave Diomedes seemed to still be immersed in the battle not long ago. His fighting spirit was not diminished, his movements were rough and powerful, and he made a lot of noise. The swift-footed Achilles went straight to his seat with a sullen expression on his face, making people wonder whether he wanted to drink wine tonight or his own anger. Although the wise Odysseus is not tall, he is eloquent and has obviously prepared a toast tonight that will amaze everyone. Sparks popped out of the crackling firewood, and the flames brazenly showed off their slim bodies. The dark red light prepared the restless carnival, seduce the appetites of the guests, and teased people's heartstrings that were still tight after the battle. .

The Mycenaean sacrificial golden mask comes from the era of Agamemnon

King Agamemnon needed to hold a banquet to build up morale and enhance his prestige

Homer This era is an era of ignorance before the light of philosophy and reason shines on the Aegean Sea. All people's cognitions, feelings and thinking are directly linked to the beliefs of the Olympian gods. Therefore, before the banquet begins, offering sacrifices to the gods becomes the first and most important procedure. As the supreme leader of the Greek coalition and the initiator of the banquet, King Agamemnon naturally became the first high priest to host the sacrificial ceremony.

The first step in offering a sacrifice is to cleanse the hands. This is an important step in worshiping the gods, expressing reverence for the gods, and preventing unclean hands from soiling the sacred offerings and desecrating the gods. The waiter presented a pottery basin filled with clear water. The pottery basin was painted with a pattern of a Greek hero hunting a lion. King Agamemnon washed his hands carefully, then filled a glass of sparkling wine and raised it to the sky, praying loudly and praying. Of course, this is the theme of the banquet. The king will also use prayers to reveal to all the guests the main content he wants to discuss today. In Agamemnon's mind, perhaps nothing could satisfy him more than the capture of Troy.

After the prayer, Agamemnon grabbed a handful of barley flour, sprinkled it on the head of the animal sacrifice, and then took the sacrificial knife to kill the animal. Usually after this step, the leader's task ends . Next, the heroes will divide the sacrifice together, cut the meat into suitable pieces, put it on the grill and start cooking carefully. Homer describes this barbecue feast in detail in his poem. Patroclus brought a large plate and placed it over the firelight. On the plate were placed the meat from the shoulders of fat goats and sheep, and the tenderloins of fat pigs with shining fat. Automedon caught it, and Achilles cut it into small pieces, and put it on an iron spit, while the godly son of Menoetius kept the fire going. When the firewood was burned and the flame was extinguished, he spread out the red-hot charcoal, placed the iron fork on it, and sprinkled the meat with sacred salt grains. When the meat was roasted, he took it off and laid it on the great table; Patroclus took the bread from the beautiful basket and distributed it to each table, and Achilles divided the meat. He sat opposite the godlike Odysseus, and the guests stretched out their hands to the meat before them.

The ancient Greeks believed that the gods of Olympus were inhumane. Their diet was unimaginable nectar, so their blood was not similar to humans. Because the food was so different, the ancient Greeks would eat the sacrifices themselves, and what was offered to the gods was the strong aroma emitted during the cooking process and the burning of the best piece of meat, which was economical and practical without wasting anything. The ancient Greeks cleverly combined sacrifice with eating, not only worshiping the gods, but also satisfying their own appetites.

Here comes the barbecue

"My godly son of Tidius," King Agamemnon put down the oily meat fork and spoke to the burly and muscular Diomedes. Said, "In the battle not long ago, you behaved like an angry Ares. Your wrath burned throughout the wilderness of Troy and shook the towering walls of Priam. Your spear served as a weapon for Phenopus." Your two sons took you to the eternal night of Hades. Your strong hands captured the gorgeous armor of the son of Eurydamas. The brave Piron was unable to compete with you. You almost defeated Cronus. "The son of darkness dragged the god-like Aeneas into the underworld", "I admire your courage, come on, this fine beef tenderloin is the reward you deserve."

The ancient Greeks believed that the best meat in an animal was the thigh and tenderloin. One of them should be burned to worship the gods, and the other should be rewarded to the bravest hero in battle. In Homer's time, dinners followed the rule of equality. The ideal state was that "no one felt that they were lacking an equal share." Therefore, it was an honor to be able to monopolize the best meat, which would make all the heroes here convinced. It also motivates them to compete for such an honor in the next battle.

The brave Diomedes was the king of Argos in the Homeric era

2. Mixing wine

Good meat can only be eaten with good wine. happy. The ancient Greeks had a special liking for grape wine. Wine could help digest meat and stimulate the rich aroma deep in the meat, which would whet the appetite of meat-loving heroes. Drinking alcohol at the same time can prevent diseases caused by drinking unclean water and help maintain health. They pay a lot of attention to the drinking of wine.

The ancient Greeks never drank pure wine. Because pure wine is extremely mellow and pure, it is a fine wine used for worshiping gods, and because of its high intensity, people can easily get drunk and go crazy after drinking pure wine. Therefore, the ancient Greeks believed that only barbarians who did not understand the rules drank pure wine. The correct way to open wine is to use a special mixing tank, which is a special mixing container. Add a certain proportion of water to make the wine lighter. The proportion and concentration are adjusted according to everyone's taste. Generally speaking, the wine-to-water ratio is 1 :3 is the best. After pouring the wine, toast to the Olympian gods, and then everyone can enjoy the physical and mental pleasure brought by the wine.