The Roman Banquet : Images of Conviviality

Book Description
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.


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Dining was an important social occasion in the classical world. Scenes of drinking and dining decorate the wall paintings and mosaic pavements of many Roman houses. They are also painted in tombs and carved in relief on sarcophagi and on innumerable smaller grave monuments. Drawing frequently upon ancient literature and inscriptions as well as archaeological evidence, this book examines the visual and material evidence for dining throughout Roman antiquity. Topics covered include the relationship between Greek and Roman dining habits, the social significance of reclining when dining in public, the associations between dining scenes and death, the changing fashions of dining at the end of antiquity, and the use of banquet scenes in the art of early Christianity. Richly illustrated, The Roman Banquet: Images of Conviviality offers a full and varied picture of the role of the banquet in Roman life.


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