He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. He brought me to the banqueting house - Literally, the house of wine. The ancients preserved their wine, not in barrels or dark cellars under ground, as we do, but in large pitchers, ranged against the wall in some upper apartment in the house, the place where they kept their most precious effects. We have a proof of this in Homer: -
Ως φαν· ὁ δ' ὑψοραφον θαλομον κατεβησατο πατρος
Ευρυν, ὁθι νητος χρυσος και χαλκος εκειτο,
Εσθης τ' εν χηλοισιν, ἁλις τ' ευωδες ελαιον.
Εν δε πιθοι οινοιο παλαιου ἡδυποτοιο
Εστασαν, ακρητον θειον ποτον εντος εχοντες,
Ἑξειης ποτε τοιχον αρηροτες· ειποτ' Οδυσσευς
Οικαδε νοστησειε, και αλγεα πολλα μογησας.
Κληΐσται δ' επεσαν σανιδες πυκινως αραρυιαι,
Δικλιδες· εν δε γυνη ταμιη νυκτας τε και ημαρ
Εσχ', κ. τ. λ.. Od. lib. ii., ver. 337.
Meantime the lofty rooms the prince surveys,
Where lay the treasures of th' Ithacian race.
Here, ruddy brass and gold refulgent blazed;
There, polished chests embroider'd gestures graced.
Here, pots of oil breathed forth a rich perfume;
There, jars of wine in rows adorn'd the dome.
(Pure flavorous wine, by gods in bounty given,
And worthy to exalt the feasts of heaven).
Untouch'd they stood, till, his long labors o'er,
The great Ulysses reach'd his native shore.
A double strength of bars secured the gates;
Fast by the door wise Euryclea waits, etc.
Pope.