Food as Revelry, Ritual and Wrongdoing

Paper Summary:

The paper shows that Homer's "Odyssey" makes clear the place food and eating have in the world of the ancient Greeks and also hints at deeper metaphorical meanings of eating and drinking. It discusses that of the myriad roles food and drink serve in the Odyssey, festivity and friendship remain the most salient.

From the Paper:

"Book 7 of Homer's Odyssey offers a different insight into the role of food in ancient Greek culture. Food and drink are clearly offerings to the gods here as acts of devotion. The Lotus Eaters are a prime example of the spiritual nature of food. In Book 9, the Lotus Eaters provide metaphorical meaning to eating: the flower on which they feast is esoteric. It is like a drug and induces delirium and forgetfullness. Eating the lotus is not so much an act of devotion as it is an act of avoidance here. Ulysses, grounded in his journey, moves swiftly away from the mysterious Lotus Eaters, who enchanted many of Ulysses's men."

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