HONEY IN PLUTARCH: A BITTERSWEET EXPERIENCE

Abstract The middle-Platonic tendencies of Plutarch are not only pervasive in his philosophical ideas; his temperate approach to life can be appreciated in many other contexts, and the culinary world is no exception. Particularly interesting, given his moderate views, is his depiction of foods bringing opposites together to create balance. This article first considers the combination of the opposite concepts of γλυκύς (sweet) and πικρός (bitter) in Plutarch in general; then, with reference to food consumption, it studies references to honey, both in association with a bitter element and when honey itself is described as both sweet and bitter. The article surveys the appearance of honey in other sources to obtain a wider picture before drawing conclusions with regard to Plutarch’s own literary creation.