How to Party Like an Ancient Greek

In ancient Greece, parties were wild, with traces of copious drinking and sex. This is the popular idea that continues today.

But there were different types of parties back then. Not all of them involved a lot of drinking and debauchery. Some exhibited moderate eating and drinking and intellectual conversation.

So, what really happened at these parties? And how exactly do you party like an ancient Greek?

Different strokes for different people

The Greek historian Idomeneus of Lampsacus (4th-3rd century BCE) tells us that the Greeks began celebrating in the 6th century BCE. According to him, this is when two members of the ruling class of Athens started this trend: “Hippias and Hipparchus invented parties and drunken walks in the streets; that is why they were surrounded by a large number of horses and many friends.”

The Greek writer Athenaeus (2nd century CE) provided further evidence for the role of alcohol at parties. He wrote that the Macedonian Greek nobleman Proteas (4th–3rd century BCE) said at a party he attended: “he who drinks the most will be the happiest.”

There was also evidence of sexual debauchery at parties. Sex scenes at parties, between male guests and prostitutes, men or women, appear on many vases.

Other parties were considered a good place to debate ideas among friends. In fact, some of the greatest works of ancient Greek philosophy are said to have emerged from intellectual conversations at parties.

For example, in Plato’s Republic (written around 380 BCE), the intellectual debate over the nature of justice takes place at a party thrown at the home of a rich man named Cephalus.

Buddy, you should have been there

There is a detailed eyewitness account of a festival from the ancient Greek world. Hippolochus of Macedon (4th–3rd century BCE) left behind a letter containing a lengthy description of a feast he had attended.

It was the wedding of Caranus, a rich Macedonian nobleman. There were 20 guests, all men. The walls of the room are lined with white linen curtains and the room is filled with sofas. When the guests enter, they receive many gifts and lie down on the sofas, rather than getting up, and start drinking from bowls:

As they lay down, each was given a silver libation bowl to keep. Before they even arrived, he had decorated them all with gold tiaras, each worth five gold coins. After drinking the contents of their libation bowls, each man received a loaf of bread on a bronze dish of Corinthian manufacture (the bread was as large as the dish).

After the guests have received other gifts, a prominent member of the group gives a toast. By this time, says Hippolochus, “we had now happily escaped sobriety.”

The next stage of the party is the musical entertainment: “Rhodian bagpipers, singers and harpists entered – they appeared to me naked, although some of the guests pretended that they were wearing tunics – and after playing a prelude, they came out. Other girls entered after them, each carrying two bottles of perfume, one of gold and the other of silver. […] and they gave us all a pair.

Next comes the first main course. A “huge roast piglet” is brought in. Then came other gifts: baskets and bread trays made from strips of woven ivory, as well as garlands of flowers and an extra pair of gold and silver perfume bottles.

After these gifts, there are other shows, including naked female acrobats “who did somersaults among the swords and blew fire from their mouths.”

As the drinking continued, a choir of 100 men began singing a wedding hymn. Then there were other dancers, followed by “the Mandrogen clown”. [… who] made us laugh on several occasions; after that he danced with his wife, who was over 80 years old.

The party ends with guests filled with wine and drinks and marveling at the expensive gifts they received:

Finally, the after-dinner tables arrived and everyone received […] snacks in ivory baskets, accompanied by pancakes of all kinds […] as well as special cake containers for each. After that we got up and left.

Hippolochus does not mention the guests at this party playing games. However, some evenings included games such as kottabos. This involved throwing wine dregs at targets located on top of posts to try to dislodge them.

Some ideas for your next party

You now have a plan for your next party, whether it features bowls of booze, lavish gifts of gold and silver, naked fire-breathing acrobats, or intellectual conversation.

Remember one rule: absolutely no toga. The ancient Greeks would have raised an eyebrow – and then sent you to Rome.

The Greeks wore a chiton (a type of tunic) and a himation (a cloak or scarf, sometimes worn over a chiton). None of these really looked like a sheet.