Wine stems from an extended and rich history dating back about 8,000 years and is thought to have originated in present day Georgia or Iran.[6][7] Wine is thought to have appeared in Europe about 6,500 years ago in present-day Bulgaria and Greece and was very common in classical Greece, Thrace and Rome. Wine has also played an important role in religion since ancient times. The Greek God Dionysos and the Roman God Bacchus represented wine. Wine has also played an important role in religious ceremonies of Christianity and Judaism, such as the Eucharist and Kiddush.