About things foreign 2000 years ago (the Roman empire seems to be more relatable) : Greek considered the past in view in front of them and the future coming from behind (we usually view it the other way). Also colors were perceived differently (this one is hearsay for me): like violett or so referred to shiny.
> Also colors were perceived differently (this one is hearsay for me): like violett or so referred to shiny
It's from Homer's Illiad and Odyssey where he refers to sea the color of wine. However: 1) it's possible he's referring to the darkness, not color, or some other aspect like turbulence; 2) he was also supposedly blind, so not the best judge of colors and 3) it's possible that he didn't really exist at all.
How different languages identify colours and how those definitions have changed over time is really interesting. Apparently using different words for blue and green is one of the last things a language develops.[0] Usually "red" is one of the earliest terms developed and "blue" one of the last. [1]
Yes, I am also fascinated by color perception. Number of rainbow colors varies by culture. The sun is perceived as red by Japanese, and yellow by western culture (true color is white)
I have seen this dark red seas during a storm at sunset, they are scary and powerful in movement and in color. I don't think Homer perceived color differently than we do now.
We do not know if the distillation was not known. We just do not have evidence that it existed. Technology necessary to produce distilling equipment was available.
It is extremely unlikely that distillation of alcoholic beverages was known to the Ancient Greeks. Once distillation took off at the point when it is documented in the early first millennium, it swiftly spread through Eurasia. It beggars belief to think that the Homeric-era Greeks had these beverages and kept them to themselves.
