Claudius Maranius Decimus, a Roman with Celtic roots from the small village of Ala Nova (located between the mighty Carnuntum and Vindobona), a well-known trader, living in a beautiful villa with his beautiful wive Ejana, has always been an enterprising man. One day he decided to travel to distant Athenai to buy fine wines, which he then wanted to sell on to the wealthy clientele in Carnuntum. After all, 50,000 people lived in the vicinity of the capital of the province of Upper Pannonia, including – from time to time – the emperor himself, Marcus Aurelius.
When he arrived in the famous Athinai after an arduous journey along the Via Militaris and other smaller trade routes, he was astonished. The city was very quiet. After some searching, he found a wine shop with the words “Taberne Aikaterine” emblazoned in large letters above the entrance. The gate was open. He stepped into a high, cool room and saw a few tables and armchairs next to a sales counter. An Athenian, obviously the owner, approached him and introduced himself as Iason and his wife, Aikaterine. “Welcome, Xenos. Sit at one of the tables, I’ll be right with you!”. He came back with cups, a clay jug full of wine and some plates of delicacies. “Why don’t you savour this oinos first, you’ll love it and have some mezedes to soften the intoxicating effect of the fine wine.” When asked why it was so quiet in the neighbourhood, Iason replied: “You’ve caught a day of Panegyris and most of the city’s inhabitants are at the agora. They’re coming here later to eat and philosophise.”. Maranius pricked up his ears. The philanthropist in him began to ponder, the merchant to calculate. He liked what he saw and was also interested in something: “I haven’t even introduced myself yet. I am Claudius Maranius Decimus, from the north. You called me Xenos. What does that mean?” “Χαῖρε, Maranio! You’re a xenos here. That’s someone we don’t know yet, but who is still a welcome guest. We make no distinction. Especially today, no one should have to eat and drink alone. Get ready for something!”. Iason smiled knowingly.
Late in the evening, Maranius finally left the now bustling taberna, staggering, with a cartload of wines, some mezedes recipes from Aikaterine … but above all as Philos, as a friend (for many), because there can be no strangers, when there isn’t even a word for it! A plan was quickly made. Back at home, he introduced his wife Ejana to it and she was immediately enthusiastic.
Together they built a cosy alcove in their previously rather sprawling storage rooms, set up tables and chairs and finally invited business partners and friends to the opening of the “Taberne Ejana”. It is even said that Emperor Marcus Aurelius himself was later a regular guest at the Taberne and took the idea of it with him to Rome, where it became a taverna and later, in a modified form, a (Heurigen) restaurant in our part of the world … the rest is history (whether fibbing or not). In Greece, this legendary hospitality can still be found today, as there is still no word for stranger, but there are several for FRIEND!
© Wolfgang Lugmayr 2023-11-24