Horacy o winie

Abstract

The text presents Horace’s outlook on Roman wine culture. It deals with passages referring to wine and pays specific attention to wine as pharmakon. Horace praises moderation in wine drinking as a sign of refinement obtained in his social milieu. He denounces excess as contrary to the norms of the “civilised world.” Wine brands in the texts are used as props in social interplay: inviting Maecenas to dine with him, Horace offers cheap wine to demonstrate his independence from the wealthy sponsor.