Men, who were free citizens, enjoyed full civil rights as opposed to metics (immigrants) and slaves, who, nonetheless, formed large part of the population. They occupied, through elections or by lot, public offices, such as courts, and participated in the Citizens’ Assembly (Ekklesia of the Demos) where they sometimes voted for the removal of their fellow citizens who were considered dangerous for democracy (ostracism).

At nights, they often dined in the androns, rooms reserved for men’s symposia in wealthy houses. The symposium revolved around the drinking of wine, the gift from god Dionysos, whom they invoked at the beginning of the feast. They mixed wine with water in deep vessels (kraters), and served them in cups (kylikes, kantharoi) or bowls, with large serving jugs (oinochoai). Wine drinking was accompanied by discussions, music, dancing and games. Sometimes these games were board games. Some were strategy games played with counters on a chequered board and some were chance games, played with dices and knucklebones.

Symposia were held throughout antiquity. In the great mansions of late antiquity, the apsidal halls, the triclinia, with the semicircular couches, replaced the androns of previous periods where the couches lined the room’s walls. The habit, however, to dine reclined remained unchanged.