Ancient Wine

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    I had recently read some claims that one of the reasons the ancients watered their wine was because of its high alcoholic content, compared with our (unfortified) wines today. This appears to be false. (My wife, who made wonderful, dry country wines, also said so. ^^)

    There has been mention on here before about Epicurus, as he was dying, drinking undiluted wine.

    There may have been other reasons for watering wine, though, in addition to concerns of sobriety.

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    Note: I do not water my wine; my wife sometimes does (and she imbibes infrequently). :)

    "We must try to make the end of the journey better than the beginning, as long as we are journeying; but when we come to the end, we must be happy and content." (Vatican Saying 48)

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    I am literally in the middle of going through the fragments and texts and putting together a list of all the foods that the Epicureans were said to "limit" themselves. Lentil stew, anyone?

    The reason I post here is the word Οἰνίδιον "small wine, poor wine" from Diogenes Laertius X.11

    "at all events they were content with half a pint of thin wine"

    The -ιδιον is a diminutive. Personally, it would make sense to me if this referred to young wine, low in alcohol, like "small beer."

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