Symposia How to plan a party

1. Organise your party Why are you throwing this party? To celebrate the introduction of young men into aristocratic society? To celebrate other special occasions, such as victories in athletic and poetic contests? To show off? To socialise/ network?

2. Choose your menu Finger foods! Souvlakia (meat cooked on skewers, made with pork or lamb, herbs and spices, garlic, Olive oil, and cooked in wine) Maza (flat bread) Fruits and vegetables including oranges, grapes, pomegranates, olives Dolmas (rice, olives, olive oil, garlic, chickpeas, lentils, and herbs wrapped in grape vine leaves) Deserts similar to Baklava (a Mediterranean dessert made out honey, phyllo pastry, nuts and cardamom).

3. Send out the invitations Who do you invite? Couches:7-9 (seating 2/3 people) Total number: 14-27 What is the ‘point’ of your party? What kind of message do you want to send? What relationships do you want to form?

4. Prepare the venue Which room is the symposium held in? Why is it held there? How could the room be decorated? The andron is usually the only room with a stone floor. This floor was sloped to the centre to make cleaning it out simpler.  Don’t forget your wreath!

5. Drinks KYLIX (wine cup) AMPHORA (wine storage jar) KRATER (wine mixing bowl) PSYKTER (wine cooler) HYDRIA (water jar) OINOCHOE (wine jug)

In charge of mixing together the water and the wine. Chosen by vote. Symposiarch The bartender! In charge of mixing together the water and the wine. Chosen by vote. The host was responsible for deciding how drunk his guests would get, and how slowly. Intoxication of some kind was unavoidable - no one left a symposium entirely sober. 

Libation poured any time wine is to be drunk Heroes received a libation from the second krater  "Zeus the Finisher" (Zeus Teleios) received a libation from the third and last when the first krater of wine was served, a libation was made to Zeus and the Olympian gods.  An individual at the symposium could also make an invocation of and libation to a god of his choice.

6. Entertainment The simplest would be where the guests bring their own instruments and play, sing, recite poetry, discuss philosophy and play kottabos. Kottabos was a game where players flicked the residue at the bottom of their cup (hence the shallow cups!) either at each other - trying to catch it in their own cup, or at a target: trying to knock something over, or sink a floating object.

Hetairai Professional entertainers that were companions to men at symposia They were often highly trained in singing and dancing They were well paid for their services

For instance, hetairai were the only women allowed to attend symposia Unlike most women in ancient Athens, hetairai enjoyed a certain amount of freedom and independence. For instance, hetairai were the only women allowed to attend symposia The best hetairai could earn a lot of money for their work and could become famous for their talent.

Task On a piece of paper, write why you are having a party. Fold it over so the writing is not visible and pass it to the person on your left. The next person writes what you will have to eat, folds the paper and passes it on. Keep adding information including: who is invited, the venue, the drinks and the entertainment.

Plan your own symposium! Imagine you are an ancient Athenian party planner. Design a potential party plan for your portfolio. Remember to include: Numbers Menu Invitations Venue (including arrangement) Drinks Entertainment Rough idea of cost

Task A01 Describe the events of a typical Greek symposium. [5] A02 Explain why an Athenian man might have held a symposium. [5] A03 Do you think a symposium would have been fun to go to? Give your reasons. [5]