Wines of Ikaria, known in antiquity as “Pramnian Wine,” have been highlighted in some of humanity’s greatest literary scenes. Most notably, perhaps, is the mention of Pramnian wine by the great Greek poet, Homer, in both of his epics, The Iliad and The Odyssey. Often cited as an essential ingredient in the magical elixir of kykeon, Pramnian wine makes various literary appearances.
In the eleventh rhapsody of The Iliad, it is mentioned that Hecamede prepares a nourishing potion to restore the strength of Nestor and his friends,
“In it the woman, like unto the goddesses, had mixed for them Pramnian wine, and grated over it a goat’s-milk cheese with a brazen rasp, and sprinkled white flour upon it: then bade them drink, as soon as she had prepared the potion” (Homer, XI, p. 618-643).
In the tenth book of The Odyssey, kykeon is also cited with the same specific ingredients, yet is now used by the witch, Circe, for more malicious purposes,
“And she mixed them a potion with barley and cheese and pale honey added to Pramnian wine, but put into the mixture malignant drugs to make them forgetful of their own country (Homer, X, p. 234-236).
The wine of Ikaria has woven itself into the deep cultural fabric of Western literary tradition, and is an important facet in understanding its long-standing heritage on the island.
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