Posca (/ˈpɒskə/) was anancient Roman drink made by mixing water andwine vinegar. Bracing but less nutritious and generally less palatable than wine, it was typically a drink for soldiers, the lower classes, and slaves.
The wordposca is derived from eitherLatinpotor 'to drink' or fromGreekepoxos 'very sharp'.[1] Because the Greeks lacked a word forposca, sources written in Greek, such as the Bible and Plutarch, use the word οξος,oxos 'vinegar' in its place (translated asacetum in theVulgate Bible). The word eventually migrated into Greek from about the sixth century AD onward as theByzantine army continued the Roman tradition, drinking what they termedphouska. This word (sometimes renderedphouska) may mean 'beer' in some contexts:
What it certainly meant originally, like Latinposca, was vinegar-and-water, the regular beverage of the classical Roman army on bad days. ThusAëtius gives, andPaul of Aegina repeats, a recipe for a "palatable and laxativephouska" which includescumin,fennel seed,pennyroyal,celery seed,anise,thyme,scammony, andsalt to be added to the basic liquid, which is explicitly calledoxykraton "vinegar diluted with water."[2]
The widespread use of posca is attested by numerous mentions by ancient sources ranging from theNatural History ofPliny the Elder to the comedies ofPlautus. When on campaign, generals and emperors could show their solidarity with common soldiers by drinking posca, as didCato the Elder (as recorded byPlutarch) and the emperorHadrian, who according to theHistoria Augusta "actually led a soldier's life ... and, after the example ofScipio Aemilianus, Metellus and his own adoptive fatherTrajan cheerfully ate out of doors such camp-fare as bacon, cheese, and vinegar." A decree of AD 360 ordered that lower ranks of the army should drink posca and wine on alternate days.[3] The most famous mention of posca is in the Bible, where Jesus is given a sponge soaked inoxos (conventionally translated as "vinegar") duringhis crucifixion; theGospel of John mentions that it was given to him "onhyssop."[4][5] Posca was also used as an ingredient in ancient recipes, most famously mentioned inApicius.[6] Vinegar drinks with herbs were also used as medicine. Recipes can be found in medical scriptures like the P. Oxy. 1384.[7]
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