The Roman banquet : images of conviviality

Drawing frequently upon ancient inscriptions as well as other archaeological material, Katherine Dunbabin studies the representations of the banquet in Roman painting, mosaic, sculpture, and the minor arts, and compares them to archaeological evidence as well as written sources. She discusses the history of dining practices and the evolution of the iconography of dining. By highlighting the artistic and archaeological evidence, Dunbabin offers a more well-rounded picture of the role of the Roman banquet than can be found in literary sources alone. Drawing frequently upon ancient literature inscriptions as well as archaeological evidence, this book examines the visual and material evidence for dining through Roman antiquity. Richly illustrated, The Roman Banquet offers a full and varied picture of the role of the banquet in Roman life. In the ancient world, to lie down to eat and drink while others stood to serve you was a sign of power, of privilege, of prestige.