L'ebbrezza come illecito politico. La legge di Pittaco tra tensioni sociali ed eterie simposiali nella Mitilene del VII-VI sec. a.C.

The essay aims to investigate the reasons that, between the seventh and the sixth century B.C., gave birth to a well-known law by Pittacus, aisymnétes and nomothétes of Mytilene. According to the law, the offenses committed by intoxicated individuals were subject to a more severe sanction than those perpetrated by sober people. The analysis both of the historical, sociological, political background (characterized by significative tensions between the noble and the demos), and of the personal relationship between Pittacus and the members of the aristocratic families – who used to gather in heteriai and symposia (“drinking clubs”) – provide useful material for the development of a plausible hypothesis about the specific goals of Pittacus’ provision.