BANQUETS

"A Good Pig Out!"
All you've ever wanted to know about the art of banqueting.

A gathering of people at a sit down meal. Possibly a name derived from banc or bench. Often these feats had entertainment such as dancing girls and musicians. This was traditionally the only way that women could get in as all the guests were male. These rules have now been relaxed I'm glad to say.

Ancient Banqueting

Ancient Banquet styles varied country to country. In Greece your guests were chosen by lots and required to attend regardless of other commitments they might have had. Severe punishments were dealt if this duty was ignored. They would wear white robes and crowns of flowers and were known as parasites which was then considered a sacred title.

Roman banquets were very lavish affairs. It is thought that Heliogabalus once served 600 ostrich brains, gold-wrapped peas, lentils with precious stones and other dishes with pearls and amber. At another feast it is reported that a boar was stabbed and out flew a large number of thrushes which were then caught and presented to the guests. It does not record if they were then eaten or not.
Although the food and entertainment may have been sumptious and expensive, each guest was required to bring his own napkin!

The Gauls had a less civilised way of feasting but nonetheless equally lavish. They had less ostentatious table ware and surroundings, using straw to sit on instead of benches. For cups they would drink from animal horns and bones. They also drank from the skulls of their enemies as well as from the skulls of their parents (presumably duly deceased at the time), apparently from some kind of filial duty. The high ranking Gauls would drink wine, whilst the lower status Gauls would have beer. It was customary to present the legs of the cooked animals to the bravest warrior. Often this would lead to arguments and in some extreme cases, guests would even fight to the death. This would often be encouraged, especially if the dancing girls hadn't turned up!