Literary approaches to wine in the texts of the Odyssey and the role of digital culture in cultural preservation

Abstract

This paper deals with the position and role played by wine in the case of an important text of ancient Greek literature, the Odyssey. Reading the Homeric epic reveals its importance, as it is revealed by the multitude of references to wine in the work. Through the detailed description of the various verses and episodes, the multiple roles of wine in the epic are demonstrated. With the methodology of text analysis, it is proven that wine is a daily habit of the life of the lords, either at meals or at special moments, considering it an important asset. It also played an important role in the religious life of that time, both because mortals offered it to the gods, and because the latter treated it as they saw fit. Also, the familiarity with wine becomes evident from its use as a means, either to achieve one's goal, or to advance the plot.