Roman feast in the fresco
The custom of vomiting (by skilfully manipulating a feather or a slave’s finger) during Roman feasts, although mentioned in various sources, almost always applies to only a few Roman emperors (Vitellius, Claudius, Nero; the latter helped himself with enemas); the other thing is that we know less about the figures of the lower class – few of them have their own biographies.
The slogan vomunt ut edant, edunt ut vomant! (“vomit to eat, eat to vomit!”) Did not accompany the dinners consumed on a daily basis by the Roman bourgeoisie.
Sources
- Bardel Michał, Wielkie żarcie w oczach Petroniusza, czyli o rzymskich zbytkach w dziedzinie jedzenia i picia, "Misięcznik ZNAK", 10.2007
