Esteemed Friend,

You are cordially invited to a day of elevated discourse, art, and merriment at a grand symposium to be held at the Pergola Event Center, in the spirit of our noble ancestors. Let us gather as the Athenians once did—reclining on couches, adorned in garlands, and united by shared art and sharpened minds.

The symposium will commence at 11:00 in the morning, with libations poured in honor of Hephaestus, god of artisans and craftspeople. Let us toast not only to the gods, but to wisdom, beauty, and the bonds of friendship that sustain us. Artists, poets, musicians, and orators will grace the gathering, but so too will those who know the value of silence in listening and laughter in debate.

Of particular note for this occasion is the drinkware, for no symposium is complete without the vessels that serve both as instruments of indulgence and objects of contemplation.

You will drink from kylikes, skyphos—broad, shallow cups with elegant looping handles, their interiors painted with scenes of heroism, revelry, or sly humor. Look into your wine and find within it the face of Dionysus or a lover's eye; let the cup speak before you even sip.

There will be kantharoi as well—tall, deep cups with lofty handles, suited for those who wish to toast like Herakles himself. These are vessels of stature and strength, for those who would match wit with fortitude.

For the mixing of wine and water, a central krater shall sit among us, both symbol and servant of communal balance. As is tradition, the wine will not be drunk unmixed—our aim is not oblivion, but inspiration. From the krater, wine will be ladled into each guest’s cup using a graceful oinochoe, a single-handled jug whose curve pours with precision and grace.

These vessels are not mere tools—they are art. Each cup, each pitcher, has been crafted with reverence for ancient form and modern hand. Let their shapes guide your thoughts; let their weight remind you of the shared heritage we honor.

Dress comfortably, wear a wreath if you wish, and come prepared to speak, to listen, to sing, and to be moved. The symposium is not a spectacle, but a shared act of creation—a mingling of souls through wine and word.

Come, recline with us. The wine waits. The night calls.

With anticipation and respect,
Connor Kelly
Symposiarch-in-waiting