- The Roman Feast or Banquet could be a Public Feast, a Private Dinner party or a drinking affair.
- All three types of banquet followed strict protocols regarding how and when the food and drinks were to be served.
The Three types of Feast
- Epulum
- a Public Feast for the inhabitants of the town.
- Cena
- a private mid afternoon supper.
- Comisatio
- a drinking party.
The Dining Room (Triclinium)
- The Dining Room was one of the most important rooms in a Roman private house and was usually decorated with mosaic floors and wall paintings.
- Guests would eat whilst reclining on long low couches in a U-shape, with a table placed in the centre, in the Greek fashion. Unlike the Greeks, Roman women took part in the banquet.
- The typical Dining room was called a Triclinium because it held three couches which seated three persons, so nine was the usual number of guests.
The Private Roman Banquet
- Protocols for the Guests:
- The Guests arrive:
- The male guests arrived at 3 pm, in time for a traditional washing of the feet by slaves
(unless they had come directly from the Baths) - The female guests arrived earlier and were entertained by the Hostess.
- The male guests arrived at 3 pm, in time for a traditional washing of the feet by slaves
- Dress code:
- The Toga, Headbands with flowers or wreaths and fragrant perfumes.
- The Guests arrive:
- Protocols for the Host:
- Staff:
- All slaves – from cooks to those serving the food and drink.
- The seating:
- This was on three couches, each seating three persons (making a total of nine guests) and arranged in a U, with the Host at the head and his male guest of honour seated on his right.
- Washing of hands:
- Nearby were side tables with bronze basins of perfumed water and towels for the diners to wash their hands between courses, since the diners eat some dishes using their fingers.
- Tableware:
- The dishes and goblets reflected the status of the Host.
- Large dishes, bowls and jugs and serving spoons would be made from solid silver.
- Plates and goblets would be of red gloss ceramic ware terra sigillata
- Goblets and decanters made of glass were also used.
- Entertainment:
- Music by a group of musicians.
- Recitations: Classical Greek poetry and odes.
- Staff:
- The Meal
- Gustatio or Appetisers:
- Celery, lettuce, olives, pickled eggs, radishes;
- Sea urchins, shallots, spicy sausages and a mustard salad.
- Gustatio or Appetisers:
-
- Mensae Primae or Main course:
- Roasted dormice and braised cubed meat with fennell.
- Rabbit’s and goat kid’s livers marinated in honey then cooked in a wine and garum sauce.
- Deer stuffed with dates and damsons.
- Boar boiled in sea water.
- Mensae Primae or Main course:
-
- Mensae Secundae or Dessert Course:
- Fruit served from a large silver bowl.
- Mensae Secundae or Dessert Course:
- The Drinks
- Beverage:
- Strong Honey flavoured Roman Wine diluted by water.
- After Dinner Drinks:
- After the food had all been finished, the serious drinking began.
- At Huge feasts, the guests went to the Latrines to make themselves sick.
They then returned to start eating and repeat the dining and drinking experience all over again. - N.B: The Vomitorium was an exit at the Amphitheatre for crowds to literally ‘spew out’ when leaving, not a room to vomit the food eaten at the banquet.
- Beverage: