The Greek term for the male drinking ritual that has been loosely applied to the Etruscan equivalent, most easily seen in the tomb paintings of Tarquinia and the grave goods of many Etruscan tombs. The most notable differences are that the Etruscan equivalent is better designated as a feasting ritual (where eating and roasting are as important as drinking) and that women were present in Etruria on an almost equal footing to the men. A very large amount of the paraphernalia found in Etruscan tombs relates to the symposium, including many drinking vessels, the kottabos, roasting spits, and even the couches on which the dead recline. Many depictions of the deceased are symposium scenes.
See also WINE.
Historical Dictionary of the Etruscans. Simon K. F. Stoddart.