Writer: Yavuz İşçen
August 2010

In Anatolia, the first signs of wine and a connected culture are seen 6000 years ago. However, the real importance of Anatolia in wining comes from an accepted fact that the wine used to get distributed to the world from here. In the excavations done, some archeological data have been found which support this idea. In the guidance of this data, it has been determined that wine was a known and widespread drink in Anatolia about 4000 years ago. In the excavations and research done at several locations in Anatolia jags and written notes were found, belonging to the time of Hittites.
The most important civilizations that the wine is thought to have influenced deeply comes the ancient Greek, who are accepted to be the head of the eastern culture and Roman. According to mythology, Dionysos the son of Zeus has taken vine from Anatolia to the Greek peninsula. In the years when the ancient Greek civilization lost it’s powers; Romans a growing power, have adapted Dionysos to their culture as Bacchus. The people who were pressurized by the Roman government have eventually turned Bacchus, the god of wine, in to a holy savior. In those years, in spite of the prohibition by the Roman government Christianity was spreading rapidly in Anatolia and it did not take long for the Christians to possess Bacchus culture and its symbols. Hence, wine had become a part of Christian culture, their mass and holiness.

Note: This article has been published in Peribacası Cappadocia Culture and Publicity Magazine, August 2010 issue. It is under protection of the copyrights of the magazine. No part of this article may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by electronic, mechanical or other means without prior permission from the owner. www.cappadociaexplorer.com