Uncorking the past: wine in the bronze age

New analysis of Troy findings by Stephan Blum, University of Tübingen, rewrites the story of wine in the early bronze age

April 5, 2025| Times21 min read
Depas amphikypellon from Schliemann’s excavations at Troy. Institute of Classical Archaeology at the University of Tübingen/Valentin Marquardt, CC BY-SADepas amphikypellon from Schliemann’s excavations at Troy. Institute of Classical Archaeology at the University of Tübingen/Valentin Marquardt, CC BY-SA

Wine drinking in ancient Troy was not restricted to the upper classes, as has long been supposed – something our new research has established for the first time. Colleagues at the University of Tübingen and I have discovered that wine was also enjoyed by the common folk, independent of upper-class celebrations and religious rituals.

In the late 19th century, German archaeologist Heinrich Schliemann (1822-1890) excavated the ancient city of Troy. He was hoping to discover the residence of Priam, the king of the city besieged by the Greek army under Agamemnon, as immortalised by Homer in the Iliad.

Read the full story at Times2.

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