Jun 7, 2012 10:55
11 yrs ago
English term
bromian (wine)
English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
The word occurs in an epigram found in the ancient city of Herculaneum in Italy (an quoted in S. Greenblatt's "The Swerve"), so it is from an ancient text. The epigram itself invites a friend, Piso, to come and celebrate a monthly feast in honour of Epicurus:
"Tomorrow, friend Piso, your musical comrade drags you
to his modest
digs at three in the afternoon,
feeding you at your annual visit to the Twentieth. If you
will miss udders
and Bromian wine mis en bouteilles in Chios,
yet you will see faithful comrades, yet you will hear
things far sweeter
than the land of the Phaeacians..."
I assume the adjective "Bromian" is referring to a place name, but even if so, I couldn't find what it is.
"Tomorrow, friend Piso, your musical comrade drags you
to his modest
digs at three in the afternoon,
feeding you at your annual visit to the Twentieth. If you
will miss udders
and Bromian wine mis en bouteilles in Chios,
yet you will see faithful comrades, yet you will hear
things far sweeter
than the land of the Phaeacians..."
I assume the adjective "Bromian" is referring to a place name, but even if so, I couldn't find what it is.
Responses
4 +4 | Bacchus | Mark Nathan |
Responses
+4
18 mins
Selected
Bacchus
the Bromian god - another name for Bacchus (god of wine).
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Note added at 18 mins (2012-06-07 11:14:47 GMT)
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http://freaky_freya.tripod.com/Drunktionary/A-B.html
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Note added at 18 mins (2012-06-07 11:14:47 GMT)
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http://freaky_freya.tripod.com/Drunktionary/A-B.html
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Charles Davis
: ie. "Bacchic", relating to Bromius = Bacchus/Dionysus, so it's a typically tautologous Greek epithet.
2 mins
|
agree |
Anita Šumer
10 mins
|
agree |
Veronika McLaren
1 hr
|
agree |
Jenni Lukac (X)
: Cheers to all!
4 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thanks, mark!"
Discussion
Another link on bromine http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/bromine-facts-13628.h... indicates two things that might be helpful (?) - that it has a strong smell, (stench, actually!) and that it is reddish-brown.... could this thus be a reference either to its smell (which we hope has become more pleasant..) or its colour? Have you tried looking for the characteristics of wine from Chios?