Comments on: Triclinium Roman dining tables

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:02:27 +0000

It looks like the next generation grand prix cars are here! In the States [ http://www.dasolar.com/solar-energy/berkeley-solar-car ]

And in Turkey [ http://content.techrepublic.com.com/2346-10878_11-6521.html ]

In Canada [ http://ecocity-group.com/events.html ]

And of course in the UK [ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motorsport/goodwood-festival-of-speed/5734374/Goodwood-Festival-of-Speed-Jenson-Button-unveils-solar-racer.html ]

To name but a few….

By: Christine

Christine — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 04:29:38 +0000

I don’t think chariot racing went out of fashion….[ http://www.asymptote.net/…the technology just changed!

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 06:20:09 +0000

Bring back chariot racing! – as a sport for daredevils.

By: christine

christine — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 05:51:54 +0000

It makes you wonder how they used women and drawfs in gladitorial games?
[ http://library.thinkquest.org/26602/entertainment.htm ]

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:23:13 +0000

I do not know if the charioteers were young noblemen or more akin to gladiators but, yes, they must have been fit.

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 05:08:28 +0000

Perhaps the Romans participated in chariot races as a way of keeping fit?
[ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/essex/4148315.stm ]

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 08:15:51 +0000

I guess the clinums are about 600mm high on the outside and 700mm on the inside, so the ‘pit’ is about 700mm below the level of the rim.
One has to admire Seneca’s phraseology but it does seem improbable, unless the vomiting was akin to tea tasters spitting out what they had tasted, in which case it would have been a deliberate and sensible way of avoiding obesity.

By: Christine

Christine — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:45:23 +0000

The how deep is the central space pictured?

Patrick Faas writing in ‘Around the Roman table’ believes the practice of vomiting (due to gluttony) in Ancient Rome is overstated. Although Seneca is said to have complained ‘They eat to vomit and vomit to eat’ this behaviour seems to have been restricted to ill-mannered emperors such as Claudius and Vitellius. (p66)

In fact [Athenian] guests had been known to complain of the petit cuisine like nature of their dining experience (p72);

“Such a presentation is supposed to offer variation, but it doesn’t fill your belly. I end up smearing my lips instead of filling them.”

By: Tom Turner

Tom Turner — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:34:17 +0000

I guess the central space was occupied either by a spread of food or by servants handing out food and clearing away vomit.

By: Tyra in Vaxholm

Tyra in Vaxholm — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:10:54 +0000

Oh I like it, I’m always so fascinated by what the Romans did. I presume they had water in the middle? Fishbourne really looks like a place worth visiting.

Tyra