They did not have turkeys (these were imported from America) but they most certainly had chicken of various kinds, such as the ones of Chalkida, Tanagra or Rhodes. The Rhodes’ chickens would be very meaty but did not produce many eggs. The Ancient Greeks also ate, as we do, plenty of pork and goat’s meat but no big animals, such as cows which were used for farming. The poorer people ate cow’s meat usually during the great sacrifices of public religious celebrations. Also, there was a separate donkey meat market in Athens.

Scene from a butchery of Ancient Athens. The butcher is cutting a cow’s leg. On the right, his assistant. In the background, another piece of meat hangs from a vine-arbour.

(Scene from an amphora from an ink-painted picture of the 6^th century BC, Museum of Fine Arts)

They also usually ate game. Wild boar, deer and birds were in the menu of richer people who also had the time to go hunting. They ate snails, too.

It was also very usual (as it is actually today, in the country) for them to eat boiled meat which lasted longer. They would also though roast, char-grill or cook meat in a pot, known as "gastra". They also cooked it in various sauces with ingredients such as oil, salt, pepper, vinegar, dill, mint, thyme, cumin, oregano, fennel etc.

Continue.....