INTRODUCTION

In Plato’s Gorgias, Socrates refers to a traditional skolion, or drinking-song, in which health is described as the greatest blessing for humankind (451e). This much-quoted song, attributed to Simonides or Epicharmos and thus going back to the fifth or even sixth century BC, says:

To be healthy is best for mortal man, second is to be of beautiful appearance, third is to be wealthy without trickery, and fourth to be young with one’s friends.