Ancient Greek Food
History and Archaeology give us insights into the Ancient Greek diet
Firstly, in our health concious age it is clear to see that the Greek diet was particularly healthy. The Greeks who lived near the Medditeranian sea had an abundant supply of of fish, squid and shellfish. In addition, they ate lots of fruit, wholemeal bread, beans and of course, olives. Goats milk cheeses and wines were also produced from ancient times.
Much of our information about Ancient Greek Food comes from written sources, but archaeology can be useful in verifying the written records and can give insights into the complexity of trade relations. When we find the fragments of thousands of wine amphorae from northern greece at dig sites in the southern island of Rhodes we know that the trade must have been considerable.
Obviously they had no efficient refridgeration so perishable goods would not travel far, but locally it seems most of what the greeks required in a varied diet could be produced.
The massive numbers of olive trees had both a positive and negative effect on the greek diet. Homer stated that Greek courts sentenced people to death if they destroyed olive trees. While this situation led to millions of trees producing oil and food in vast quantities, the resulting soil degredation and erosion must have done long term damage in less fertile areas, leading to famine and starvation.