Chapter IX - Convivium in Villa aurea

© Copyright Vittorio Carvelli 2016 warning : this section features nudity, and violent and sexually explicit text and images - do not view if you may be offended to view images full size open in a new tab © Copyright Vittorio Carvelli 2016 The day of the banquet dawned. Called, in general terms, a 'convivium' (or banquet), the Romans also distinguished between specific types of gatherings, such as the 'epulum' (public feast), the 'cena' (dinner, normally eaten in the mid-afternoon), and the 'comissatio' (drinking party). Dinner parties took place in private residences, in which the host entertained a small group of family friends, business associates, and clients. Elite, private banquets, were designed to be a kind of feast for the senses, during which the host strove to impress his guests with extravagant fare, luxurious tableware, and diverse forms of entertainment, all of which were enjoyed in a lavishly adorned setting. A Roman dinner party incl...