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Because its discovery throughout Heinrich Schliemann’s excavations at the famous fortress city of Troy, the depas amphikypellon — a round goblet with 2 curved deals with which is believed to be the goblet pointed out in Homer’s legendaries– has actually been thought about a prospective drinking vessel for red wine. New examinations by archaeologists from the University of Tübingen, the University of Bonn and the University of Jena verify this hypothesis by determining high concentrations of fruit acids a sign of routine usage particularly for red wine– though these very same acids were likewise discovered in cups and beakers from Troy. This raises concerns concerning the social and cultural significance of the drink: while formerly viewed as a special symbol of the Early Bronze Age elite, red wine usage might have been more extensive than formerly presumed.
A 15-cm-tall depas amphikypellon excavated by Heinrich Schliemann at Troy. Image credit: Valentin Marquardt/ University of Tübingen.
Hephaestus spoke, then stood, passed a double goblet throughout to his dear mom,’states the very first book of the Iliadstating how the god of fire, metalworking and volcanoes motivates his mom.
As he spoke, the white-armed goddess Hera smiled. She grabbed her kid’s goblet.
He put the beverage, going from right to left, for all the other gods, draining sweet nectar from the blending bowl.
This drinking vessel, the depas amphikypellonis popular to archaeologists.
The item is a slim clay goblet with 2 deals with, narrowing to a pointed base.
Over one hundred such vessels from the duration in between 2500 and 2000 BCE have actually been discovered in Troy to date.
They are likewise spread throughout the Aegean to Asia Minor and Mesopotamia, and can hold in between 0.25 and 1 liter.
“Heinrich Schliemann currently conjectured that the depas goblet was circulated at events– simply as explained in the Iliad,” stated Dr. Stephan Blum, an archaeologist at the University of Tübingen.
“The classical archaeology collection of the University of Tübingen holds a depas goblet and 2 pieces from Schliemann’s chest.”
In a brand-new research study, the scientists warmed a 2-gram sample from the 2 pieces and studied the resulting mix utilizing gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectronomy (GC-MS).
“The proof of succinic and pyruvic acids was definitive: they just take place when grape juice ferments,” stated Dr. Maxime Rageot, a scientist at the University of Bonn.
“So now we can mention with self-confidence that red wine was really intoxicated from the depas goblets and not simply grape juice.”
Red wine was the most costly beverage in the Bronze Age and a depas goblet was the most valuable vessel. Depas goblets have actually been discovered in temple and palace complexes.
Researchers had actually deduced that white wine drinking took location on unique celebrations in elite circles.
Did individuals from the lower classes in Troy likewise consume red wine as a daily food and high-end?
“We’ve likewise chemical studied normal cups that were discovered in the external settlement of Troy and for that reason outside the castle. These vessels likewise consisted of white wine,” Dr. Blum stated.
“So it is clear that red wine was a daily beverage for the typical individuals too.”
The group’s paper was released in the American Journal of Archaeology
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Stephan W.E. Blum et al2025. The Question of Wine Consumption in Early Bronze Age Troy: Organic Residue Analysis and the Depas amphikypellon American Journal of Archaeology 129 (2 ); doi: 10.1086/ 734061
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