Food in ancient Greece

Learn about the food people from Ancient Greece ate, including what they ate for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. What did they drink, and did they use forks? Strange foods and fun facts.

Food in ancient Greece

The diet of the ancient Greeks was quite basic. In contrast to several other ancient societies, they did not view sumptuous and ostentatious feasts as beneficial. Greek cuisine consisted mostly of three primary foods: wine, oil, and wheat.

What meals did they eat?

Generally, the Greeks had three meals a day. Breakfast was a quick and easy meal that was often made of porridge or toast. They ate a small lunch as well, which consisted of bread once again with cheese or figs.

Dinner was the main course of the day, and it was consumed close to sunset. There were occasions when dinner was a lengthy get-together, including a wide range of dishes like cheese, bread, eggs, fish, and vegetables.

Typical Foods

The cuisine of the Greeks was somewhat basic. They consumed a great deal of bread dipped in olive oil or wine. They consumed an abundance of vegetables as well, including beans, cabbage, cucumbers, onions, and garlic. Apples, grapes, and figs were typical fruits. They made delicacies like honey cakes and sweetened their diet with honey.

Although fish was the primary meat, the affluent occasionally consumed cattle, chicken, lamb, and hogs.

Did the family eat together?

Usually, the family did not have meals together. Meals were had separately by men and women, often in distinct rooms and at different times. Male buddies would frequently host dinner parties for men. For hours, they would converse, eat, and play games. We dubbed this kind of dinner party a “symposium.” The ladies were barred from participation.

What did they drink?

The Greeks drank water and wine. The wine would be watered down, so it wouldn’t be too strong. They sometimes drank a thick gruel called kykeon, which included water, barley, and herbs.

The Greeks drank wine from a large, shallow cup called a “kylix.” Sometimes the Kylix had a picture at the bottom that would be revealed as more wine was drunk from the cup.

An Ancient Greek Kylix Cup

Did they eat any strange foods?

The Greeks ate some foods that might seem strange to us today, including eels, small birds, and locusts. Perhaps the strangest thing they ate was a popular food of the Spartans called “black soup.” Black soup was made from pig’s blood, salt, and vinegar.

Did they use forks and spoons?

The Greeks mostly used their hands to eat. They sometimes used spoons, but would also use bread to soak up broth or soups. They had knives to cut up meat.

Facts About Food and Cooking in Ancient Greece

• The Greeks didn’t drink milk and considered it barbaric. They used milk to make cheese.
• Athletes often ate a special diet that consisted mostly of meat. You had to be rich to be an athlete on this type of diet.
• Sometimes wealthy Greeks would use bread as a napkin to wipe their hands.
• At dinner banquets, the guests would lay on their sides on couches while eating.
• Poor people in the cities mostly got their meat from animal sacrifices to the gods held during festivals.

Food in ancient Greece

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