What's On

Bacchus Uncorked: Drinking Like a Persian King

GETTY VILLA

Outer Peristyle

This is a past event

Wine-drinking etiquette at the royal court of Persepolis and other ancient Persian capitals influenced the drinking rituals at courts from Egypt to India. Historian Touraj Daryaee explores the historic diplomacy of wine and surveys coveted ancient wines from Afghanistan to Iraq, regions once well known for wine production. He traces the early evidence of winemaking in the Caucasus and Iran, highlighting texts and objects associated with drinking in the Achaemenid, Arsacid, and Sasanian Empires of 500 BCE to 650 CE. Following his presentation, enjoy sipping distinctive wines while taking in the sculpture and flora of the Villa's gardens.

Tickets: $90, includes wine and appetizers. 21 and over. Parking fee: $20; $10 after 3:00 p.m.

Complements the exhibition Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World, on view through August 8, 2022.

Bio
Touraj Daryaee holds the Maseeh Endowed Chair in Persian Studies & Culture and is the director of the Dr. Samuel M. Jordan Center for Persian Studies & Culture at the University of California, Irvine. He is the editor of the Oxford Handbook of Iranian History (OUP 2012) and the forthcoming, Food for Gods, Food for Mortals: Culinary and Dining Practices in the Greater Iranian World, eds. Shervin Farridnejad & T. Daryaee (UCI Center for Persian Studies, 2022).

Plan your visit

The lecture takes place in the Auditorium and the wine tasting takes place in partially covered outdoor spaces of the Outer Peristyle; please dress accordingly. Plan to arrive early to visit the exhibition Persia: Ancient Iran and the Classical World as the galleries will not be open during wine tasting.