Grilled Sow's Womb for Dinner, Anyone?

By Liisa Eyerly

In my book Obedient Unto Death, describing meals eaten two thousand years ago proved enlightening. The womb of a sow was a favorite dish among the ancients and was considered a great delicacy.

I will share some of the more curious recipes in another blog, but if you believe the Roman banquet is about food, you couldn’t be more wrong.

In my previous blog, I discussed the seating chart at a dinner party—the host assigned places based on the order of a guest’s importance or popularity. The menu reinforced the pervasive veneration of social class in Roman society. A high-ranking government official or wealthy patron required more elaborate displays of deference, including painstakingly prepared foreign sauces and spiced meats, like ostrich and flamingo. The more the host tried to impress, the fancier and more expensive the food. Inferior wine was served to the lesser guests, who may also have noticed being served more commonplace courses during the meal.

Robert Smirke - Study of a Roman Banquet scene - Wikimedia.org - Yale Center for British Art

While honoring specific guests, the banquet also highlighted the host’s pedigree, family wealth, education, and, most importantly, status. The slaves laid out the best silver and, if the family was extremely wealthy, crystal goblets. One and two-handled cups made from carved onyx, blown glass, and gem-encrusted bronze, silver, and gold were all in use. However, the more affordable and abundant tableware for those of us reclining on the right-side couch was terracotta pottery.

British Museum London 

The evening was a production of exotic dishes, imported wines, and entertainment. Triclinia (dining rooms) were designed—you guessed it—to show off the family money, education, travel, sophistication, and oratory skills. Walls were painted, floors displayed mosaics, and statues adorned the room, all featuring ancient myths, battles, heroes, heroines, famous poets, politicians, emperors, gods, and goddesses. Like today's media, these cultured decorations inspired thought-provoking debates and stimulating conversation. 

                                                        Triton, aquatic deity

Arno river deity 

Guest recitations of poetry, prose, or song were encouraged as part of the evening's enjoyment and were often accompanied by hired musicians playing the flute, lyre, or pipes. Depending on the guest list, dancing girls or acrobats might be swirling and tumbling to the audience's approval. Mime was a favorite entertainment choice, as were the more expensive gladiatorial contests and wild animal acts. The following jug depicts a female acrobat shooting an arrow with her feet.

Marcus Cyron, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Attractive servers and slaves contributed to a delightful dining experience, with the smallest details calculated to underscore the host family’s prominence, wealth, and, most importantly, their status.

Even after two millennia, some customs have not changed.

Liisa Eyerly’s Secrets of Ephesus series adds a Christian twist to first-century Roman Empire mysteries. Her debut novel, Obedient Unto Death (2022), won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award and first place in Spiritual Fiction. The second book, Fortunes of Death, launches on October 15th. A lifelong mystery lover, Liisa was inspired by the Apostle Paul’s depiction of early Christians. After careers in teaching, librarianship, and stained glass, she began writing full-time at fifty. Liisa lives in northern Wisconsin with her husband and enjoys pickleball, kayaking, Bible study, and visiting Ancient Roman sites.