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Livia Drusilla (58 BC - AD 29)
Old World Elegance
In this gracious room, the table is set for Livia Drusilla, empress of ancient Rome. As the wife of Augustus Caesar, Livia presided over the highest echelons of Roman society some 2,000 years ago, when Rome's power was still expanding. When dining at her country villa just north of the city, she could afford the finest of the empire's cuisine. The appetizers presented here are just the beginning of an elegant three-course Roman meal.
Table Service:
A bustling team of slaves and servants prepared and delivered gustatio, mensa prima and mensa secunda, the three courses that made up a Roman cena, or evening meal.
Dining While Reclining:
A formal Roman dining room is known as a triclinium, from a Greek word meaning "three beds." Three couches stood around a small table where the meal was served. Each couch could fit three guests, who reclined on their left sides, so their right hands were free for eating. If unexpected guests turned up, they sat just behind the reclining diners and were known as umbrae, or shadows. |