Vase Painting of a Symposium
Upper-class Greek men often spent their evenings at a symposium, a drinking party that always included much conversation and usually featured music and entertainers. Wives were not included. The discussions could range widely, from literature to politics to philosophy. The man on the right is about to fling the dregs of his wine, playing a messy game called kottabos. The nudity of the female musician indicates she is a hired prostitute. (Detail, Foundry Painter / Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, UK / photo © Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, UK / Art Resource, NY.)