So I was thinking about how various ancient dead people like Homer (for the sake of simplicity I'm just gonna imagine Homer as one dude) would sing their epic poems to a group of people, which would take a while, I assume. So, I wondered if any of them had to just stop every once in a while and take a breather. I mean, I get lightheaded if I get into a conversation with a friend for more than 15 minutes, so if these ancient storytellers were anything like me (which I doubt, but that's not the big issue at hand), then they would get really lightheaded too. It makes me wonder if any of them would just be singing/reciting their poem and then pass out. I could see that happening, though probably not very often.
But running low on oxygen isn't my most important thought on these poets. So, yeah, they would be singing and stuff and so as a result, wouldn't their throats get really dry? And wasn't drinking wine a big part of their culture? So, just imagine this: you're at this tavern hearing the epic tale of Odysseus, and Homer's getting thirsty. He then turns to his right (or left, that part isn't terribly important), and picks up a cup filled with wine and drinks it to quench his thirst. Now, if the wine isn't very diluted with water, then Homer would probably get drunk relatively quickly, even if he's used to drinking. So, continuing imaging, you got this storyteller who's just getting more and more drunk while telling you this story. I'm not sure if the story would better or worse, but I feel like this would have been able to get some people to laugh. I mean, drunk storytelling!
Now, maybe this didn't happen, but still! I kinda wish it did because it would be so funny! Just some old(er) guy so drunk that they can't even enunciate their words anymore but is still trying to finish part of the story. Or the even funnier situation (in my mind, at least), this old guy is so drunk that mid mumble he just passes out. I don't know why I find that so amusing, because that would probably really hurt, especially if the person who passes out is an older person.
But yeah, that's my random though of the day. I mean, from my very limited knowledge about ancient Greco-Roman cultures, I feel like these poets would use wine if they got thirsty so who know? Maybe recounting the stories would take a long time because the reciters would get too drunk to continue...
Maybe the wine served to make the storytelling more animated (considering it was diluted)? I don't really know the answer, but I agree, it's interesting to consider whether the ancients were somehow better with alcohol than we seem to be today!
ReplyDeleteKeep in mind that a bard of Homer's stature would be a professional--he would have distinguished himself in the art of storytelling, and especially of the epic tale. If wine-drinking were part of the transaction, he'd have a professional interest in making sure it didn't interfere with his skills. We shouldn't imagine a guy holding down the corner table at a bar--this is closer to an onstage one-man play or spoken-word monologue, with an engaged and interested audience.
ReplyDeleteDo we ever see the bard at Telemachus's take a drink? My sense is that he's not quite part of the party, but more like the hired entertainment. He's treated with respect, but he isn't part of the social circle.