Archaeologists suggest that wine drinking in ancient Troy was enjoyed by more than just the royal elite

Since it was discovered during the excavation of Heinrich Schlimann in the legendary fortress city of Troy, Depas Amphikypellon – The cylindrical goblet with two curved handles, considered to be the goblet mentioned in Homer’s epic, is considered a potential drinking container for wine. New research by archaeologists at the University of Tübingen, Bonn and Jena University confirms this hypothesis by identifying high concentrations of fruit acids that exhibit regular use exclusively for wine, but these same acids were also found in Troy cups and beakers. This raises questions about the social and cultural significance of beverages. Although previously recognized as the exclusive coat of arms of the early Bronze Age, wine consumption may have been more widespread than previously assumed.

‘Hefaestus spoke, then rose to his feet and handed the double goblet to his beloved mother.” says the first book iliadtells us how fire gods, metalworking and volcanoes encourage mothers.

‘As he spoke, the white goddess Hera smiled. She reached for her son’s goblet.‘

‘He pulled out the sweet nectar from the mixing bowl, right to left to left for all the other gods.‘

This drinking container Depas Amphikypellonwell known to archaeologists.

The object is a thin clay goblet with two handles narrowed to a pointed base.

Over 100 ships have been previously discovered in Troy from 2500 to 2000 BC.

They are also scattered from the Aegean Sea to Asia and Mesopotamia, and can hold between 0.25 and 1 liter.

“Heinrich Schlimann has already speculated that Depas’ goblet was handed over to celebrate. iliadsaid Dr. Stephen Blum, an archaeologist at the University of Tubingen.

“The classic archaeological collection at the University of Tübingen has two fragments and depas goblets from the Schliman terrorist attack.”

In the new study, researchers heated 2 grams of samples from two fragments and studied the resulting mixture using Gas Chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

“The evidence for succinic acid and pyruvate was conclusive. It only occurs when grape juices ferment,” said Dr. Maxim Reigeot, a researcher at the University of Bonn.

“So now we can confidently state that the wine is actually drunk not only from grape juice but also from DePas’ goblet.”

Wine was the most expensive drink of the Bronze Age, and DePas’ goblets were the most precious ship. DePas’ goblets have been found in a temple and palace complex.

Therefore, scientists speculated that wine drinking took place on special occasions in elite circles.

But did the lower classes of Troy drink wine as everyday food and luxury?

“We also studied ordinary cups where chemicals were found in the outer settlements of Troy.

“So it’s clear that wine was a daily drink for the public as well.”

Team’s paper It was published in American Journal of Archeology.

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Stephen We are Bram et al. 2025. Wine consumption problems in Troy in the early Bronze Age: organic residue analysis and Depas Amphikypellon. American Journal of Archeology 129(2); doi:10.1086/734061