Ambrosia and Nectar

Ambrosia is what the gods eat and nectar what they drink, though Greek authors occasionally swap them. The word ambrosia comes from a-mbrotos, 'not mortal' — the same root as 'immortal' — so its name is a description of its effect rather than a flavour.

It maintains divinity rather than conferring it. The gods are not born mortal and made immortal by eating; they eat to sustain what they already are. Homer notes as an aside that this is why they have ichor in their veins instead of blood, and why a wounded god bleeds something that is not blood at all.

It also preserves. Thetis anoints the body of Patroclus with ambrosia and nectar to keep it from decaying while Achilles delays the funeral, and Aphrodite uses it on Hector's corpse to protect it from being dragged. It is embalming fluid as well as food.

Mortals who receive it deliberately can be raised: Heracles, Psyche and others are given it at the moment of apotheosis. Mortals who take it without sanction are punished severely. Tantalus stole it from the gods' table to share with his friends and is still in Tartarus with food and water pulling away from him — the punishment fitting the crime exactly.

The word survives in English for anything delicious, and in botany for the genus that gives us ragweed, which is a comedown. Nectar meanwhile became the sugar in a flower, and the thing bees turn into honey.