EARLY USE OF WINE AMONG THE ROMANS. 13 



Pallas also found the vine growing naturally upon the Cas- 

 pian and upon the Black sea, and it is also very common in 

 the Crimea. 



The introduction of the vine to those countries where it is 

 now cultivated to the greatest extent, was gradually from more 

 eastern climes, whence it was first brought to the southern parts 

 of Europe. In the time of Homer it grew spontaneously in 

 the island of Sicily, and probably upon adjacent parts of 

 the continent ; but it was not improved by skill, nor does 

 it even appear that the rude inhabitants extracted a liquor 

 from it. It was not until a thousand years after this period 

 that Italy could boast, that of the fourscore most celebrated 

 wines, more than two-thirds were the produce of her own soil. 



A highly interesting and curious account is given by Dr. 

 Sickler, of its gradual migration to Egypt, Sicily, and Greece. 

 The Phoenicians, who had widely extended their commerce, 

 and who frequently explored the coasts of the Mediterranean, 

 introduced the culture of the vine into the isles of the Archi- 

 pelago, and afterwards into the 'island of Sicily and into 

 Greece ; and lastly, to Italy, Provence, and the territory of 

 Marseilles. 



Early use of wines among the Romans. 



During the first period of the Roman empire the culture ot 

 the vine attracted but little attention, for Romulus forbade the 

 use of wines in the libations then customary in the sacrifices of 

 the Asiatics, and restricted them to milk as a libation on the 

 funeral piles of the dead. Numa maintained this custom, 

 and forbid wine at funerals, and he only permitted them to 

 make use of such wine in their libations to the gods as had 

 been made from vines that were well pruned, as Pliny asserts, 

 in order to render the pruning of the vine an object of ne- 

 cessary care to those who cultivated it. 



Wines were so rare and expensive in Rome during the early 

 life of Lucullus, that but a single draught was allowed at a 

 repast, however sumptuous the feast and entertainment might 

 be in other respects : and Varro tells us that Lucullus never 



