Holy men who met their unholy ends
Legend has it that ancient Romans partied so hard that they had a special room called a vomitorium, where they'd purge their stomachs so that they could continue to eat and drink. But was this even real?
In this gallery, we delve into the history of ancient Roman feasts, what was on the menu, how seating arrangements worked, and how debauched these banquets really were. Click on and draw inspiration (or not) from the Romans for your next party!
Roman dinner parties were extravagant affairs. The get-together known as a convivium was an important event in Romans’ social calendar.
These parties would usually take place at a triclinium, which was a formal dining room that could be found in Roman buildings. These dining rooms were usually beautifully decorated with mosaics and pieces of art.
The triclinium would have three chaise lounges known as lectus triclinaris. The seating was arranged in a U-shape.
Unlike the ancient Greeks’ drinking parties known as symposia, where the only women present would be performers, entertainers, and sex workers, in a Roman convivium women were welcomed as guests.
Ancient Romans liked to party, and they used these occasions to show off their wealth and gain influence and political favor among their peers. It goes without saying that party hosts were not poor.
Sometimes these political games went as far as assassinations. A famous example includes the son of the emperor Claudius, who suspiciously died after a party. With Nero benefiting from his death and becoming the heir, it’s safe to say he had a motive.
Guests would often be important, powerful people, and seating arrangements reflected the guests' status. The three reclining couches of the triclinium reflected how important the guest was. The seat of honor would be in the middle, the host would sit to the right, and the left chaise lounge was reserved for lower-status guests.
As parties grew larger, the type of seating also evolved. The triclinium couches were replaced with a larger stibadium, where up to 12 people could seat.
Wine was the drink of choice at Roman parties. These were traditionally served by undressed males.
Ancient Romans would usually mix wine with water, sometimes cold, and sometimes hot. This would be done to taste, individually.
Those of higher status would often drink out of silver, and later glass, cups; many of these were decorated with mythological or erotic scenes.
The menu usually included a three-course meal consisting of starters, followed by the main course, and then dessert. Guests liked to show off by presenting food in a spectacular fashion and by serving the rarest, most exotic foods they could find.
Popular foods included wild boar, venison, pheasant, peacock, oysters, and lobsters. Sides such as vegetables and beans were also often served.
Foods could get a bit more exotic though. Examples include parrot, goose liver, camel heels, ostrich, flamingo, cranes, and snails.
But there’s more. How about crawfish with caviar, sausages stuffed with brains, and honey-smeared nightingales stuffed with prunes?
Of course, there was more to Roman parties than simply eating, drinking, and socializing. Entertainment was also important. Music, for instance, was a must, with musicians playing flutes, water organs, and lyres.
In addition to musicians, a wide range of other entertainers were brought in, including dancers, acrobats, and mimes. Exotic animals would sometimes be displayed as well.
Guests could chill out while listening to someone reciting poetry, or quench their thirst for something bloodier, like a gladiatorial battle.
There is this myth that the ancient Romans had a specific room where they would vomit, so that they could indulge in more food and drink at their hedonistic affairs. This is actually not true.
Vomitorium is a classical Latin word used to describe the entrances and exits at theaters and stadiums, as in places “vomiting” people in and out. It was not until the 19th century that the literal meaning was assigned; a myth that persists to this day.
The convivium was a private affair with more of a social and political nature, but there was also one type of party that had a religious end. It was called an epulum, and instead of being an exclusive private event, it was open to the public.
Food offerings were made to gods in these civic banquets. Epulum Jovis ("Feast of Jupiter") was one of the most popular ones. The ritual feast was offered to Jove on the Ides of September (September 13).
Before Christianity, Saturnalia was a big event. The Roman god of agriculture was celebrated in December and it’s believed to have influenced current Christmas celebrations.
The Greco-Roman god of wine and fertility inspired the Romans’ Bacchanalia, also called Dionysia. These parties were lavish hedonistic affairs featuring lots of drinking and rituals.
These were first held by women, three times a year. Men then started doing the same, but at a much higher frequency. These were private rituals, so what went on exactly is not well known. There was apparently lots of drinking, rumored sex among guests, and even human
sacrifices. These parties were banned in 186 BCE.
Many Roman emperors had a reputation for being debauched, but Gaius Caesar Augustus Germanicus, aka "Little Boots" or Caligula, really earned it.
The Roman emperor was known for throwing the wildest parties aboard vessels, which were described as being "blazed with jewels" and "filled with ample baths, galleries, and saloons, and supplied with a great variety of vines and fruit trees."
Emperor Domitian's black banquet is one of the most famous Roman parties in history. He threw the ultimate Halloween party back then, featuring food dyed black, as well as making sure the decor was black too.
But perhaps the most macabre part was that Emperor Domitian had his guests sitting next to tombstones with their names on it. It was all a prank though!
See also: How crazy were medieval feasts?
How to party like an ancient Roman
Were Roman feasts really as hedonistic as we've heard?
LIFESTYLE Ancient rome
Legend has it that ancient Romans partied so hard that they had a special room called a vomitorium, where they'd purge their stomachs so that they could continue to eat and drink. But was this even real?
In this gallery, we delve into the history of ancient Roman feasts, what was on the menu, how seating arrangements worked, and how debauched these banquets really were. Click on and draw inspiration (or not) from the Romans for your next party!