These guys know how to party! Bedlam especially should appreciate this!
http://www.britarch.ac.uk/ba/ba57/feat2.html
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Virtus vincit invidiam
"Virtue overcometh envy"
Power Drinkin in Iron Age Europe
Moderator: Glen K
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Otto von Teich
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The relationship between food and power is both well-documented and widespread. Some avenues to explore and some interesting facts related to this subject:
The word "lord" derives from the anglo-saxon terms for bread guardian.
Roman clients often served in return for food.
The Roman Mob was appeased with gifts of food and entertainment (bread and circuses).
The Jannisaries were completely organized around a food-based system, complete to communal eating arrangements, ranks that denoted responsibility for food preparation or delivery, wooden spoons worn pinned to their caps, and food brought to them directly from the ruler's kitchen in a regular, ritual meal.
The Indians of the Pacific Northwest engage in elaborate feasts called Potlatches (potlatch) which involve ritual gifting of lavish items to people. Tribes spend years preparing for a potlatch and many went so deeply into debt that the practice was outlawed in Canada during the early 1900's.
There is an excellent, if highly technical book, which provides archaeological evidence for a similar practice amongst the Celts of Western Europe. I'm sorry, but I don't remember the title, I came across it one day in the University of Texas library and forgot to make notes.
Lavish feasting has two goals, the first is to demonstrate wealth and, thus, power. The more lavish the feast and the gifts, the higher the status of the individual who provided them. The second goal is to draw the recipients into a reciprocal gifting cycle. By giving somebody something you place them in your debt. The way for them to get out of this debt, obviously, is to give you something back. To be on the safe side (enhance their own reputation, avoid insulting you, etc...) their gift should be a little 'greater' than yours. Which then puts you in your debt. Etc....
The value of an item is mostly based on perception. The Romans traded wine to the Celts and thought the Celts fools because they overpaid for it (a slave for a single amphora). The Celts, on the other hand, thought it a bargain because they had plenty of slaves and very little wine and they could boast of how expensive the wine they were serving was.
Sharing food is also a bonding experience. Consider the hospitality traditions among certain tribes. The practice of communion in Christianity (itself a ritual re-enactment, in many ways, of an ancient 'feast'). The word 'companion' is derived from the terms for sharing bread. Eating with someone is a highly personal act. Drinking with them is even more so, rugby players and heavy-fighters are well aware of this.
So the next time someone wanders into your camp and asks you to keep it down remember, you're engaged in an ancient bonding ritual.
The word "lord" derives from the anglo-saxon terms for bread guardian.
Roman clients often served in return for food.
The Roman Mob was appeased with gifts of food and entertainment (bread and circuses).
The Jannisaries were completely organized around a food-based system, complete to communal eating arrangements, ranks that denoted responsibility for food preparation or delivery, wooden spoons worn pinned to their caps, and food brought to them directly from the ruler's kitchen in a regular, ritual meal.
The Indians of the Pacific Northwest engage in elaborate feasts called Potlatches (potlatch) which involve ritual gifting of lavish items to people. Tribes spend years preparing for a potlatch and many went so deeply into debt that the practice was outlawed in Canada during the early 1900's.
There is an excellent, if highly technical book, which provides archaeological evidence for a similar practice amongst the Celts of Western Europe. I'm sorry, but I don't remember the title, I came across it one day in the University of Texas library and forgot to make notes.
Lavish feasting has two goals, the first is to demonstrate wealth and, thus, power. The more lavish the feast and the gifts, the higher the status of the individual who provided them. The second goal is to draw the recipients into a reciprocal gifting cycle. By giving somebody something you place them in your debt. The way for them to get out of this debt, obviously, is to give you something back. To be on the safe side (enhance their own reputation, avoid insulting you, etc...) their gift should be a little 'greater' than yours. Which then puts you in your debt. Etc....
The value of an item is mostly based on perception. The Romans traded wine to the Celts and thought the Celts fools because they overpaid for it (a slave for a single amphora). The Celts, on the other hand, thought it a bargain because they had plenty of slaves and very little wine and they could boast of how expensive the wine they were serving was.
Sharing food is also a bonding experience. Consider the hospitality traditions among certain tribes. The practice of communion in Christianity (itself a ritual re-enactment, in many ways, of an ancient 'feast'). The word 'companion' is derived from the terms for sharing bread. Eating with someone is a highly personal act. Drinking with them is even more so, rugby players and heavy-fighters are well aware of this.
So the next time someone wanders into your camp and asks you to keep it down remember, you're engaged in an ancient bonding ritual.
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Ziad
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Can anyone say "Government cheese and cable TV"? I thought you could. 
In the article it mentions Aurochs horns used as drinking horns. They "back-bred" the Aurochs - to some extent - in Europe; it is now a protected species. I was wondering if anybody knew where I could find the horns commercially - or something similar. Highland Cattle, maybe?
Thanks
Ziad
In the article it mentions Aurochs horns used as drinking horns. They "back-bred" the Aurochs - to some extent - in Europe; it is now a protected species. I was wondering if anybody knew where I could find the horns commercially - or something similar. Highland Cattle, maybe?
Thanks
Ziad