Courtesans and Fishcakes: The Consuming Passions of Classical Athens

A brilliantly entertaining and innovative history of the ancient Athenians' consuming passions for food, wine and sex.

Sex, shopping and fish-madness, Athenian style.

This fascinating book reveals that the ancient Athenians were supreme hedonists. Their society was driven by an insatiable lust for culinary delights - especially fish - fine wine and pleasures of the flesh. Indeed, great fortunes were squandered and politicians' careers ruined through ritual drinking at the symposium, or the wooing of highly-coveted, costly prostitutes.

James Davidson brings an incisive eye and an urbane wit to this refreshingly accessible and different history of the people who invented Europe, democracy and art.

Author: James Davidson
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Fontana Press
Published: 06/01/1998
Pages: 400
Weight: 0.81lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.00w x 1.03d
ISBN: 9780006863434
Revised Edition