Chap. 19.] 
TAEIETIES or ARTIFICIAL WINE. 
257 
pose by the ParthianS as well as the Indians, and, indeed, 
throughout all the countries of the East. A modius of tlio 
kind of ripe date called chydsese" is added to three congii 
of water, and after being steeped for some time, they are 
subjected to pressure. Sy cites is a preparation similarly 
made from figs : some persons call it palmiprimum,^'^^ others, 
again, catorchites : " if sweetness is not the maker's object, 
instead of water there is added the same quantity of husk 
juice of grapes. Of the Cyprian fig^^ a very excellent vinegar, 
too, is made, and of that of Alexandria a still superior. 
A wine is made, too, of the pods of the Syrian carob,^^ of 
pears, and of all kinds of apples. That known as " rhoites"^^ 
is made from pomegranates, and other varieties are prepared 
from cornels, medlars, sorb apples, dried mulberries, and pine- 
nuts these last are left to steep in must, and are then pressed ; 
the others produce a sweet liquor of themselves. "We shall 
have occasion before long to show how Cato^^ has pointed out 
the method of making myrtites the Greeks, however, adopt 
a different method in making it. They first boil tender sprigs 
of myrtle with the leaves on in white must, and after pound- 
ing them, boil down one pound of the mixture in three congii 
of must, until it is reduced to a couple of congii. The be- 
verage that is prepared in this manner with the berries of 
wild myrtle is known as m^^tidanum;"^^ it will stain the 
hands. 
Among the garden plants we find winee made of the follow- 
ing kinds : the radish, asparagus, cunila, origanum, parsley- 
19 He says "caryotae," and not chydsese, in B. xiii. c. 4. The modius 
was something more than our peck. 
20 From the Greek (TVKrj, a " fig." This wine was made, Fee thinks, 
from the produce of some variety of the sycamore. See B. xiii. c. 14. 
21 Prime palm apparently. 
22 Tortivum, probably : the second squeezing. 
23 See B. xiii. c. 15. 24 gee B. xiii. c. 14. 
25 See B. xiii. c. 16. 
26 From poa, a "pomegranate." 
2^^ Dioscorides calls it strobilites." Fee says that they could be of no 
service in producing a vinous drink. 
28 See B. XV. c. 37. 29 Qr myrtle wine." 
30 Myrtle will not make a wine, but simply a medicament, in which wine 
is the menstruum. 
VOL. III. S 
