Καταχύσματα

It was a custom, among the Athenians, of newly-bought slaves entering first into the house, or simply of those for whom they wanted to presage something good, and they used to pour out sweetmeats for a bridegroom by the hearth as a symbol of plenty. So says Theopompus in Hedychares: "Come on you, hurry up and pour out the outpourings on the bridegroom, and on the bride. -- Great idea!".¹ The outpourings consisted of dates, biscuits, titbits and dried figs and nuts, which the assembled slaves would try to snatch. Aristophanes in Plutus [writes]: "I will go inside and fetch the outpourings, as if for his newly-bought eyes".²