Food, diet and meals play a relevant role in the Traditional Roman Religion. Unfortunately the imagine we have today of the relation of the Ancient Romans with food has been totally distorted by the defaming propaganda of the new religions.
Nonetheless, the Ancient Romans themselves tended to be ironic about the way liberti (often christians) ate without any decency and limits: just to mention the famous Trimalchio's Party in the Petronius Satyricon.
On the contrary, Ancient Romans ate very little and in a very simple way: we now found our everyday habits on the same tradition.
The diet was based on three main frugal meals:
jentaculum (breakfast)
prandium (lunch)
cena (dinner)
During the meal just few things were eaten: usually vegetables (beans, lentils, cabbage, fresh vegetables) and fruits, a little meat, bread and flat bread, wine.
Only the cena was a real meal, while the others were rather fast snacks.
Today our meals must be inspired to the same principles: frugality and balance.
Meat consumption in particular must be limited: never eat raw meat. In some days it is not possible to eat meat (see the calendar and the festivities). Meat thus plays a peculiar role also in consideration of the principle "from death, life": during sacrifice it was used the formula "Macte!" whose meaning is "grow!"
The calendar in fact inspired often what, when and how eat. In the same way, a totally rigorous vegetarian diet is not predicted in the Roman Traditional Religion.
Food and diet thus are used to confirm the role of mankind within the natural order (see also the prometeus myth): we are not savage animals hence we do not eat too much meat and raw meat.
Moderation, frugality and balance always inspire the diet
Too much food or alchool absolutely do not belong to the Traditional Roman Religion also because this violates the principles of dignitas and gravitas to which any pater and mater familias are inspired.
Meals are also sacred events because the meal is the moment where family members gather: meals are thus sacred to Vesta
Nonetheless, the Ancient Romans themselves tended to be ironic about the way liberti (often christians) ate without any decency and limits: just to mention the famous Trimalchio's Party in the Petronius Satyricon.
On the contrary, Ancient Romans ate very little and in a very simple way: we now found our everyday habits on the same tradition.
The diet was based on three main frugal meals:
jentaculum (breakfast)
prandium (lunch)
cena (dinner)
During the meal just few things were eaten: usually vegetables (beans, lentils, cabbage, fresh vegetables) and fruits, a little meat, bread and flat bread, wine.
Only the cena was a real meal, while the others were rather fast snacks.
Today our meals must be inspired to the same principles: frugality and balance.
Meat consumption in particular must be limited: never eat raw meat. In some days it is not possible to eat meat (see the calendar and the festivities). Meat thus plays a peculiar role also in consideration of the principle "from death, life": during sacrifice it was used the formula "Macte!" whose meaning is "grow!"
The calendar in fact inspired often what, when and how eat. In the same way, a totally rigorous vegetarian diet is not predicted in the Roman Traditional Religion.
Food and diet thus are used to confirm the role of mankind within the natural order (see also the prometeus myth): we are not savage animals hence we do not eat too much meat and raw meat.
Moderation, frugality and balance always inspire the diet
Too much food or alchool absolutely do not belong to the Traditional Roman Religion also because this violates the principles of dignitas and gravitas to which any pater and mater familias are inspired.
Meals are also sacred events because the meal is the moment where family members gather: meals are thus sacred to Vesta
4 commenti:
Trovo il tuo blog molto interessante. Cercavo qualcosa in lingua inglese, invece mi sono imbattuto nel tuo blog. Il libro che ho scritto contiene informazioni sulla mitologia greca e romana e su riti e sepolture praticati in diverse parti del mondo. Il mio sito web è www.ettoregrillo.com
Ettore Grillo Author of "Travels of the Mind"
Very good! Balance and moderation in diet and all things should be our way. Excellent post.
Thank you all for your comments.
Caro Ettore visiterò presto il tuo sito.
You're welcome. Your post inspired me to add a paragraph here http://cultusdeorumromanorum.blogspot.com/p/roman-culture.html and of course I gave you credit and a link back here.
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