offer of shelter and food. This act created bonds of friendship between the host and the guest, which even extended to their descendants (Μοίρα, 2022). In ancient Greece, the symposion (i.e., the gathering of people who eat and drink together) played a socially important role and was more than just a meal. It was a ritual during which, through philosophical discussions, games, music, theatre and dance, friendships, partnerships and alliances were forged. It was a process beyond food that had an extremely important social dimension. Plutarch, in his essay “The Dinner of the Seven Wise Men” expressed the view that “eating alone does not mean that he eats, but that he has simply filled his stomach, like animals do.” (Πλούταρχος, 158d), pointing out the social importance of food. He then goes on to refer to wine, which necessarily accompanies food, saying that “nor is that of Dionysus strong drink and wine, but rather the friendly feeling, the longing, the association, and the intimacy, one with one another, which they create in us through these agencies.” (Πλούταρχος, 156d). At the same time, food was and still is a symbol of social status. What we eat is an indication of who we are, a powerful social symbol (Kim et al, 2009; Moira et al, 2015). For example, in ancient Greece, as later in Rome, eating fresh fish was a privilege of the few and a symbol of social status and wealth (Déry, 1998: 94). In conclusion, food, beyond personal consumption, distinguishes us from the others. Food as an offering is a sign of generosity, it consolidates or strengthens alliances. The food, the type of food, the way it is prepared, the decoration of the table, the way food is consumed, the behaviour at the table, distinguishes peoples, religions and social classes. Food is an expression of identity (Lee, 2011), it connects us to others, creates a sense of community, it strengthens our sense of belonging to a group. A typical example is the diet imposed by religions or different denominations, which is a characteristic of a religious group (e.g., Muslims, Jews) (Moira et al, 2012; Moira & Mylonopoulos, 2013). Thus, in an effort of social recognition, people learn to consume the food of the social group they wish to join and despise those that are considered inferior or religiously or ethically unacceptable. Ovid described fish as luxury foods consumed by the aristocracy of the time. Farb and Armelagos (1980) and Douglas (1982) pointed out, in their anthropological studies, “the central role of food consumption in social rituals”. The way food is prepared and consumed is influenced by factors such as the natural and cultural environment of the place (Mennell et al, 1992; Harrington & Herzog, 2007: 4-5). Natural environment refers mainly to the geographical 489 THE INTEGRATION OF THE GREEK GASTRONOMIC IDENTITY AND PHILOSOPHY
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