The kottabos, a favourite game at symposia in Classical Athens, was a game of manual dexterity. The symposiast took aim at an agreed target (usually a household utensil) and flicked the lees out of the bottom of his glass, uttering the name of a loved one. If his wine landed in the utensil, he was sure to be lucky in love. At a symposion the kottabos game was often played by the hetairai as well.
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In time a number of variants on the game were devised. The target utensil could be filled with water, and smaller clay vessels left to float on the surface. The symposiast would then have to aim his lees expertly at the small vessels and 'sink' them. Whoever sank the most won a prize. | |
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In a second variant, a tall metal rod with a small disc balanced on the top was placed somewhere in the room. The player had to knock the disc off with the lees from his glass. Two-thirds of the way up the rod sat another utensil - either a clay lamp or a drinking cup upside down - and it was regarded as terrific good luck if the disc hit the lamp (or cup) after it was knocked off its perch. |
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The kottabos game was played not only at symposia, but in public places such as bath-houses. The winner received a prize of eggs, apples, sweetmeats, a pair of sandals, or a necklace. A player was judged not only by his accuracy in hitting the target, but by style (the way he/she held the glass, the way he/she flicked out the lees). | |
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