Food in a civilization can represent many things. It can represent the differences in social classes, a society’s position, and traditions or rituals pertaining to food within a population. Nature also plays a major role in food systems throughout the years of civilizations, affecting many different aspects of the diet consumed. Overtime, diet and cuisine changes and develops with society. While reading The Odyssey, The Aeneid, Vitruvius’ Ten Books on Architecture, and The Republic of Plato, we are able to understand how different societies’ food systems work, and how each one takes advantage of the nature surrounding it. Utilizing nature and local resources was customary in ancient times and it provided a foundation for how local cuisine and …show more content…
traditions developed. This can still be seen in today’s food culture. In Plato’s Republic, Socrates offers information about a proper diet. All of the foods described in Socrates’ proper diet can be produced through farming and the surrounding nature. Ancient Greece, Rome, and even modern society are incorporating the regime that Socrates depicts as proper. “For food they will have wheat-meal and barley-meal for baking or kneading. They will serve splendid cakes and loaves on rushes or fresh leaves… and they will have wine to drink too, and pray to the Gods with garlands on their heads… I had forgotten; they will have few luxuries. Salt, of course, and olive oil and cheese, and different kinds of vegetables from which to makes various country dishes. And we must give them some dessert, figs and peas and beans, and myrtle-berries and acorns to roast at the fire as they sip their wine” (Plato, pg 59). The diet that Socrates describes was consumed by Ancient Rome, Greece, and still is by modern society today. An array of luxurious foods portray the nutrition consumed by a highly civilized modern society, and includes some foods from ancient less developed populations, such as Greece and Rome. Veronika Grimm elaborates on this quote by Socrates, saying, “The philosopher proceeds to show how the everyday comforts of their own civilized society with its meat-eating diet will generate more and more demands for luxury” (Grimm, pg 70). This gives insight to the idea that a meat-based diet will only cause more people to demand different kinds of food. The demand for more luxurious foods is more likely to occur as society evolves, which is why it is crucial to adapt with a changing environment and cultivate all the resources the world offers. As civilization becomes more established, there will be increased production of a different assortment of foods. This will cause the pure meat-eating diet to diminish, as additional people will desire consumption of the new foods. Consuming foods from the local raw material is a basis for the development of a more complex food system, one that gradually occurs overtime. Greek society, at the time of The Odyssey, was a well-established, successful kingdom and civilization, which was represented through the meals that people ate.
These meals consisted of large feasts that were enjoyed with many different types of food. They would invite strangers to feast, because hospitality was a major social normality, and this signified an established society. An established and hospitable society was one that had feasts and large variations of food. During one of the feasts, Prince Telemachus notices Athena disguised as a stranger waiting at the door, “He met her with winged words; ‘Greetings, stranger! Here in our house, you’ll find a royal welcome. Have a supper first, then tell us what you need” (Homer, pg 81). Each feast that was enjoyed was not only plenty for them, but it was also enough to invite strangers to feast, too. As a king, Odysseus was wealthy and powerful, and this was shown through his meals. In The History of Taste by Veronika Grimm, a civilized community, like the one that Odysseus was a part of, was described by Homer. “Homer’s view of a civilized community is a place where people produce grain to make their bread, where they have vineyards to make wine, orchards with apple and pear trees, pomegranates, figs and olives, and where well-planted gardens provide all sorts of fresh green vegetables throughout the year” (Grimm pg 67). Portrayed here, a civilized society was one where the food was prepared by them, a year-round surplus of many different types of cuisine. The city that is described in The Odyssey was dependent on the surrounding nature around them. All their food was locally sourced, with no mass production of food that enabled many people to enjoy the cuisine. They began to expand the foods that were gardened from just vegetables to vineyards, fruit plantations, and wheat farms. Ancient Grecian society was a secure, stable civilization, capable of various expansions regarding food and production, but the society
still lived plentifully while only exploiting the resources that were available to them from the encompassing nature.
Humans cannot survive without food, which is what the subsystem subsistence is all about. Subsistence includes any part of society or “actions relating to the distribution of food resources.” In the Odyssey, the issue of distributing food is primarily seen in Odysseus’s home of Ithaca. The suitors of Penelope according to Telemachus continue to “infest our palace day and night,/ they butcher our cattle, our sheep, our fat goats,/ feasting themselves sick, swilling our glowing wine/ as if there’s no tomorrow”. In this speech by Telemachus it is seen that the best his palace has to offer is being eaten and devoured by the suitors. As the suitors are “guests” in the house of Telemachus and Penelo...
Taking a deeper look at the meaning behind food through the eyes of traditional societies reveals nothing more than absolute complexity. Sam Gill, in Native American Religions, indisputably shows the complexity through detailed performances and explanations of sacred ceremonies held among numerous traditional societies. Ultimately, Gill explains that these societies handle their food (that gives them life), the source in which the good is obtained, and the way they go about getting their food are done in extreme symbolic manners that reflect their cosmology, religious beliefs, actions, and respect for ancestors/spirits that live among them. All of which are complexly intertwined. These aspects are demonstrated through the hunting traditions of the Alaskan Eskimo and the agricultural traditions of the Creek.
The Greeks have been known for their hospitality and politeness, especially when treating guests- whether strangers or not. This is demonstrated near the beginning of the Odyssey when Telemachus went to Pylos to visit Nestor. Nestor, not knowing who he was taking into his home as guests, treated them with great honor and respect. "Now is the time," he said, "for a few questions, now that our young guests have enjoyed their dinner. Who are you, strangers? Where are you sailing from, and where to, down the highways of sea water (p 299)?" If ever Greeks were to serve themselves before their guests or even a little better than them, then they were breaking the most basic of all Greek customs, for this tradition of hospitality was passed down from generation to generation, and breaking it would bring embarrassment and dishonor upon the home.
Altogether, hospitality was an important theme for Odysseus, during his adventure back to Ithica. Hospitality also played an important role for Telemachus, and the search for information about the whereabouts of his father. Without this tradition of Greek hospitality, the sequence of events in The Odyssey could have changed drastically. Not only was this Greek custom of hospitality important in The Odyssey, it was also important to Greek citizens. Just the simple tradition of hospitality, whether positive or negative, can explain much about Greek citizens, and how they treat each other.
The Greek value of hospitality is exhibited in The Odyssey by Odysseus and Penelope. Odysseus and his hungry men entered an unfamiliar cave, which was home to the Cyclops. Once the Cyclops saw the men he asked why they are there, and in Odysseus's explanation he mentions “It was our luck to come here; here we stand beholden for your help, or any gifts you give-as custom is it to honor strangers” (line 194). Odysseus is tried to convince the cyclops to let him and his men live by using the Greek value of hospitality. He wants the Cyclops to view him as a guest, not food. To Odysseus it was second nature to help out a guest or person in need. While Penelope was speaking to the suitors she noted “Here is a poor man come, a wanderer, driven by want to beg his bread, and everyone in hall gave bits, to cram his bag” (line 1116). She shamed Antinous for not helping the man, because in Ithaca its is accustomed to provide the hungry and poor with food. The fact that Antinous “threw a stool” at Odysseus, and “banged his shoulder” appalled Penelope. The thought of doing such a thing was unheard of to Penelope since hospitality is a part of her way of life along with all other Greeks. The people of Ithaca from The Odyssey a...
The Odyssey is a tale that has changed literature and storytelling. In this tale Odysseus is a Soldier from the battle of Troy trying to get home to his island of Ithaca, where he is king. His wife and son must wait ten years while he is trying to make his way home. In Odysseus’s absence wooer’s, or better known as suitors, learn of his absence and travel to Ithaca to win his wife’s hand in marriage. These men come every day feasting on Odysseus’s food and wine, and give his servant’s orders. His son Telemachus, does his best to keep the suitors from ruining his fathers house but he is only a boy, and doesn’t receive the respect of an adult. Telemachus then has a visit from the god Athena, whom Odysseus is friends with, who advises him to travel to find out about his father. In his travels he hears that Odysseus may still be alive. Meanwhile Odysseus goes through a series of adventures and hardships that prove his wisdom. It is interesting in contrast of the Iliad, even though Achilles was much stronger and a better warrior, Odysseus was portrayed as a greater hero due to his wisdom. He uses this wisdom to escape from the Cyclops.
Hospitality today is nothing like it was in Ancient Greece. Today, good hospitality is being friendly and respectful to a guest. In Ancient Greece, hospitality was something people had to do, or face the wrath of Zeus. Zeus’s law of hospitality is that any stranger that comes to your home, the host must be willing to feed, entertain, and maybe offer them a bath and anything else they might be in need of without question until those things had been given, and also give them a parting gift. The guest, in turn, would not be a burden in any way. In The Odyssey, most people follow the rules of hospitality, but there are others who do not. The Greek concept of xenia shows the serious priority the Greeks place on the laws of the gods.
Throughout the Odyssey, there are many relationships that represent love between two people. These relationships show loyalty, compassion, and the wanting to be near one another. Two of these kinds of relationships are between Odysseus and Telemakhos, and Odysseus and Penelope.
Homer’s poem The Odyssey depicts the tendency of people to ignore the consequences of their actions. Odysseus punished Penelope’s suitors without thinking of consequences that he would have to endure. He did not acknowledge the consequences because that would prevent him from doing what he wants to do. Odysseus wanted to kill the suitors; they ate away at his fortune. Finding consequences for murdering the suitors would force Odysseus to realize what he is about to do is not a good idea. Odysseus chose to ignore the consequences and killed the suitors anyway. Odysseus had absolutely no reason to kill the suitors; they had the right to stay in his home because Penelope made them feel welcome, Penelope and Telemachus both told them that Odysseus was dead, and although Telemachus told them to leave, he did not have the right to do so.
The Odyssey is a Greek word meaning 'the tale of Odysseus.'; Odysseus, the King of Ithaca; husband of Penelope; father of Telemachus; and son of Laertes was not able to return home after the war he was once in: the Trojan War. Stuck on an island, he is presumed dead. In his absence, suitors for his wife ruin his house with lavish feasts. This epic poem, by Homer, describes how Odysseus, with the help of the gods, gets home and regains his kingship. Justice is always harsh in the Odyssey; there is either no justice or a lot of it; the punishment however, is always severe. Justice in the Odyssey plays out among these characters: Odysseus and his crew, the suitors, Poseidon, Aeolus, Hyperion, Agamemnon, Aegisthus, Melanthius, Melantho, Telemachus, and Polyphemus. Each one of these characters does something wrong and receives a harsh punishment. In the Odyssey, justice, when done, always allots a large punishment, never a small one. Aegisthus courted Agamemnon's wife and then killed him. The justice of the Gods is a swift and powerful one. However, Aegisthus had been warned: 'we ourselves had sent Hermes, the keen-eyed Giant-slayer, to warn him neither to kill the man nor to court his wife'; (pg. 4). Aegisthus ignored the warning, killing Agamemnon and courting his wife. Orestes, Agamemnon's son, killed Aegisthus to avenge his father's death. The gods saw this as swift, fair, and powerful justice: 'And now Aegisthus has paid the final price for all his sins'; (pg.
Many diverse cultures are found in every corner of the world. Every culture is defined by its traditions and values. The film “The Odyssey,” depicts the culture of the ancient Greeks where it illustrates the life of a man, Odysseus, who has gone on a journey just to get back to his kingdom. Many values and traditions could be identified through the path of the journey. Some elements that are found important to the Greeks are the music, the religion, and the duty to the kingdom.
The Odyssey, an epic poem written by Homer and translated by Robert Fitzgerald, is about the war hero Odysseus' ten year adventure to return home after the Trojan War. At one point in the epic poem, Odysseus is retelling his adventure at the land of the Kyklopês, in which he and his crew go to an island filled with these creatures. Through Odysseus, Homer uses contrasting connotation when speaking of the crew and the Kyklopês to convey that mankind is better than the Kyklopês using two different domains domains of society.
The Odyssey details Odysseus’ arduous return to his homeland. Ten years have passed since the end of the Trojan war and Odysseus, the “most cursed man alive”, has been missing and presumed dead by many. (10.79). Throughout the novel, gods play a significant role in the fate of Odysseus and other characters. The extent of the gods’ role though is not unqualified, contrary to Telemachus’ suggestion that, “Zeus is to blame./He deals to each and every/ laborer on this earth whatever doom he pleases” (1.401-403). While Zeus does have this power, his description of how humans meet their fate is more accurately depicted throughout the novel. As he aptly points out, “from us alone, the say, come all their miseries, yes,/ but they themselves, with their own reckless ways,/ compound their pain beyond their proper share” (1.38-52). While the gods do doom certain mortals, many of these mortals exacerbate their ill fate by making rash decisions and ignoring the gods’ warnings. The gods are also not always disrupting mortals lives; they often aid mortals in need. In fact, mortals who effectively court the favor of the gods often benefit greatly. While the gods’ powers are unquestionable, no one god’s power is insurmountable. Gods can be outsmarted and their wrath escaped. The Odyssey, in congruence with Zeus’ statement, ultimately, portrays human freedom as existent, but limited.
During the Roman Empire’s destruction and eventual rebuilding process, the shaping of the prime society the people were aiming for was adapted by diet as food played a major role in their lives. As seen in the texts, The Odyssey, The Aeneid, The Bible: Gospel of Matthew, and The Canterbury Tales, we notice how food, taste and diet help us to better understand the society and time period, specifically through the act of hospitality. Medieval taste author Montanari Massimo also gives
Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, “Virtues are lost in self-interest as rivers are lost in the sea.” Roosevelt pointed out how our virtues can be lost in this vast world. Today many people disregard values, which are vital to make our society a better place. The Odyssey by Homer incorporates the morals of our world to remind us of their significance. This novel is important to read because it teaches the values of loyalty and perseverance that have been absent from our society.