Syssitia facts for kids
The syssitia (pronounced sis-SIT-ee-uh) were special shared meals for men and young people in ancient Greece. They were very important in places like Crete and Sparta. These meals also happened in other cities like Megara and Corinth a long, long time ago.
Even ancient stories from Homer talk about similar banquets. Some records suggest that cities like Carthage also had these kinds of shared meals. The idea of syssitia is thought to have started with Rhadamanthus, a famous lawgiver from Knossos in Crete. Later, Lycurgus of Sparta definitely used this practice in Sparta to help shape their society.
In Sparta, the syssitia system was very well developed. They were also called pheiditia. These meals were like a daily, required dinner for soldiers. Everyone had to attend, even the two kings of Sparta, unless they had a very good reason, like performing a religious sacrifice. If someone was away hunting, they still had to send something for the table.
Being part of the syssitia was a must for becoming a full Spartan citizen, known as a Homoioi (meaning "Peers"). Young men were allowed to join from age twenty after a special ritual. The ancient writer Plutarch described it:
Each man in the company took a little ball of soft bread, which they were to throw into a deep basin, which a waiter carried round upon his head; those that liked the person to be chosen dropped their ball into the basin without altering its figure, and those who disliked him pressed it between their fingers, and made it flat; and this signified as much as a negative voice. And if there were but one of these pieces in the basin, the suitor was rejected, so desirous were they that all the members of the company should be agreeable to each other. The basin was called caddichus, and the rejected candidate had a name thence derived.
Each person received a cup of mixed wine, which could be refilled. However, drinking too much was not allowed. After the main meal, which often included a famous black soup, a dessert or "after-meal" was served. This might have game meat, fruit, or other tasty foods. People would often sing songs during these meals. The polemarch, a military leader, was in charge of the arrangements.
Each member had to contribute a monthly share of food and money to the common pot. This included things like barley, wine, cheese, figs, and a small amount of money to buy meat. These ingredients were used to make the main dish, the black soup, which was made from pork, salt, vinegar, and blood.
Spartan citizens received a plot of land called a kleros, which was farmed by helots (enslaved people). This land was supposed to help citizens pay their share for the syssitia. If someone couldn't pay, they were not allowed to be part of the syssitia.
The exact number of members in each syssition is not perfectly clear. Some accounts suggest about 15 men per group. Other records show larger groups, with kings dividing citizens into groups of 200 or 400 members.
In ancient Crete, the syssitia were also called andreia. The building where these meals took place was called an andreion. Another name used was hetairiai. Just like in Sparta, these meals were mainly for male citizens and young men. Some sources suggest that in a few places, young unmarried women might have had their own syssitia too.
Citizens were divided into groups for meals. At first, these groups might have been based on family ties. Later, new members were chosen by the existing group members. The god Zeus Hetaireios was honored at these meals.
According to ancient writers, each town in Crete had two public buildings. One was for visitors, and the other was the andreion for the syssitia. The andreion usually had tables for foreign guests, tables for citizens, and a special table for Zeus Xenios (Zeus, god of guests), likely used for offerings.
Cretan syssitia were known for being simple and moderate. People always sat at their tables, even when it became popular in Sparta to recline (lie down) while eating. The meal began with prayers and offerings to the gods. Each adult citizen received an equal portion of food. The Archon, or "Master of the Tables," received more portions because he was in charge of the building and supplies. A free-born woman managed the tables and service. She would choose the best portion and give it to the most important citizen present. She had male helpers and servants working under her. Visitors were served before citizens and even before the Archon.
A cup of mixed wine was shared among the people at each table. It was refilled when empty, but drinking too much was strictly against the rules.
Young people under eighteen went to the syssitia with their fathers, as did orphans. In some places, the youngest orphans served the men. In others, all the boys helped. When not serving, they sat on a lower bench near the men and received half portions of meat. Older orphans might receive the same amount of food as the men, but it was simpler. The boys and men shared a cup of mixed wine, but it was not refilled.
The meals were usually cheerful, with music and singing. After eating, people would talk. They discussed public affairs and brave deeds in war, praising famous men. This was meant to inspire the younger listeners to be honorable and competitive. While listening, the young people were organized into groups, each supervised by an officer. This shows that the syssitia were important for both politics and education.
Unlike Sparta, in most Cretan cities, the syssitia were funded differently. Food from public lands, cattle, and taxes from the Perioeci (free but non-citizen people) were used. One part went to the gods and the state, and another part went to the common meals. This meant that men, women, and children were all supported from a shared supply.
However, this practice might not have been the same everywhere in Crete. In Lyctus, for example, citizens contributed a tenth of their farm produce to their tables. This might have happened in other cities where public lands weren't enough to pay for the syssitia. Still, it's likely that poorer citizens were supported by public funds.
A big question is how one building could hold all the adult citizens and young people of large towns. It's possible that bigger towns had more than one andreion, or that the number of citizens in each town was smaller than we might think.
Why Syssitia Were Important
The syssitia clearly helped bring groups of people together. By having those who would fight together also eat together in peacetime, a strong bond was formed. The syssition became like a big family where everyone was a "child of the state."
These meals also helped keep citizens separate from other groups in society. In Sparta, they even helped show differences in social standing and wealth. This made the syssitia a powerful tool for building a strong sense of national pride. The ancient historian Herodotus noted that Spartan syssitia led to soldiers who "fought with more bravery and a keener sense of shame" than if they were just random comrades.
While syssitia were originally simple and focused on moderation, in Sparta, they slowly became more fancy and luxurious. Some leaders, like Agis IV, tried to bring back the old, strict ways, but they were not successful.
See also
In Spanish: Sisitía para niños
