The Emperor’s Feast and the Beggar’s Crust: Food as Status in Ancient Rome

Food and Status in Ancient Rome: The Emperor's Feast vs. the Plebeian's Plate

Imagine stepping into ancient Rome, not onto the blood-soaked sands of the Colosseum, but into a bustling marketplace, or perhaps a lavish villa. What immediately assaults your senses? The clang of hammers, the murmur of Latin, and perhaps, most tellingly, the aromas wafting from kitchens and stalls. For in antiquity, and particularly in Rome, food … Read more