Dinner Parties Flashcards
What was the ideal number of dinner party guests
9 who would recline to eat, leaning on their left elbow
How was the food served
Food was cut up so easy to eat with fingers. Slaves would serve food from the fourth side of the table which was open
Who would determine seating
The host’s wife would decide, placing them depending on social importance
Where would the most important guest be seated
In the locus consularis next to the host on the lectus medius in position 3 which is next to position 1 on the lectus imus where the host would sit
Where would the wife of the host sit
Either recline with him on the lectus imus or sit on a chair
convivium
A banquet or feat in the family home
epulum
A feast for religious festival
cena
Dinner, may involve entertaining guests
comissatio
A drinking party
symposium
Friendly meeting after dinner including drinks and conversation, all male
gustatio
Appetizers- olives with oysters and fish sauce with dormice dipped in honey with Indian spices
mensa prima
Main course- wild boar with pigeons and doves with marrows and leeks. Served with excessive wine
mensae secundae
Dessert- honey cheesecake with Alexandrian dates stuffed with almonds and rolled in cinamon
Recitatio
A reading at a party as a form of entertainment
Examples of forms of entertainment at dinner parties
Musical performances, acrobats, dancing girls, gladiator fights, pantomime, trained animals. Even staff and slaves were incorporated e.g. singing chefs
