Saturnalia: The World Turned Upside Down

Though it’s Jupiter who Holst named the Bringer of Jollity, it was Saturn who brought the Romans into the streets and taverns. Here, a less gastronomical description of one of the merriest celebrations in classical Rome. Antoine-François Callet’s vision of Saturnalia in 1783, Winter or Saturnalia (L’Hiver ou les Saturnales), the Louvre. The air of… Continue reading Saturnalia: The World Turned Upside Down

Patinas, Pots, and Pestles: Roman Cookware

Roman cooks used a wide variety of utensils and appliances to prepare their meals. Here is an introduction to some of the items you would have seen in a kitchen during the republic. A well-preserved Roman focus from the site of Augusta Raurica, Switzerland. Much like how the contents of meals varied based on wealth… Continue reading Patinas, Pots, and Pestles: Roman Cookware