Knossos Unearths Potential Ancient Roman Wine Scam

Archaeological investigations at the Knossos site on Crete have uncovered evidence suggesting that Roman-era Cretan winemakers may have been cutting corners in their production of the prized sweet wine, passum. Excavations at wine production and shipping facilities revealed an abundance of artifacts including amphorae, filling stands, large mixing bowls, and beehives. While Crete has a long history of winemaking dating back to 2170 BCE, Roman conquest led to a surge in production, with Cretan sweet wines highly sought after for their reputation and supposed medicinal properties. However, the findings at Knossos suggest winemakers may have added honey to speed up and cheapen production, potentially deceiving consumers. Despite this, the sheer volume of Cretan wine imported into Rome suggests the Roman populace was less concerned with authenticity than modern consumers.