Anthropology
Related: About this forumLying down and vomiting between courses: This is how Ancient Romans would feast
By Silvia Marchetti, CNN
7 minute read
Published 8:34 PM EST, Sun December 24, 2023
The Romans had an unusual approach to celebration and festivities.
Archivah/Alamy Stock Photo
CNN
Imagine, if you will, the most glorious festive feast, with an oversize turkey, stuffing two ways, holiday ham, the requisite fixings and at least half a dozen pies and cakes. That may all sound grand that is, until you consider the extravagant displays of the ancient Roman banquet.
Members of the Roman upper classes regularly indulged in lavish, hours-long feasts that served to broadcast their wealth and status in ways that eclipse our notions of a resplendent meal. Eating was the supreme act of civilisation and celebration of life, said Alberto Jori, professor of ancient philosophy at the University of Ferrara in Italy.
Ancient Romans enjoyed sweet and salty concoctions. Lagane, a rustic short pasta usually served with chickpeas, was also used to make a honey cake with fresh ricotta cheese. The Romans used garum, a pungent, salty fermented fish sauce for umami flavor in all dishes, even as a dessert topping. (For context, garum has a similar flavor profile and composition to current-day Asian fish sauces such as Vietnams nuoc mam and Thailands nam pla.) The prized condiment was made by leaving fish meat, blood and guts to ferment inside containers under the Mediterranean sun.
"The Roses of Heliogabalus" by Lawrence Alma-Tadema (1888) illustrating celestial Roman diners at a banquet.
Game meat such as venison, wild boar, rabbit and pheasant along with seafood like raw oysters, shellfish and lobster were just some of the pricey foods that made regular appearances at the Roman banquet.
More:
https://edition.cnn.com/style/how-ancient-romans-feasted/index.html
hildegaard28
(395 posts)That is how you celebrate!
mitch96
(14,651 posts)vomitorium.. Classic!
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samnsara
(18,282 posts)..the great roman empire
that and Caligula whipping the ocean
Ocelot II
(120,815 posts)Actually it sounds pretty gross. During my debauched youth I was at enough parties that involved vomiting, though unplanned. Not my idea of a fun time.
Staph
(6,345 posts)I suffer from "sympathetic vomiting". If someone within earshot throws up, I am obliged to join in. I'd never get to eat anything!
cally
(21,704 posts)Most Romans had regular meals.
Ziggysmom
(3,569 posts)wasting, wasting, wasting food........
Human beings can be so vile and disgusting!