Icebutik
  • Home
  • World
  • Anomalies
  • Unexplained
  • Phenomena
  • Weird
  • Odd News
  • Mysteries
  • Contact us
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Icebutik
  • Home
  • World

    Situation in east Ukraine getting tougher, says Zelensky

    February 5, 2023

    The long and winding road to safety — Global Issues

    February 5, 2023

    What lies ahead for the US-China relationship?

    February 5, 2023

    Perth shark attack: Teenage girl dies in Swan River

    February 4, 2023

    Global Leaders Urge Participation in High-Level Financing Conference to Fund Education for 222 Million Crisis-Impacted Children — Global Issues

    February 4, 2023
  • Anomalies
  • Unexplained
  • Phenomena
  • Weird
  • Odd News
  • Mysteries
  • Contact us
Icebutik
Home»Unexplained-phenomena»Romans Snacked on Nuts and Melons While Enjoying Colosseum Bloodbath
Unexplained-phenomena

Romans Snacked on Nuts and Melons While Enjoying Colosseum Bloodbath

SteinarBy SteinarNovember 26, 2022No Comments4 Mins Read
Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp VKontakte Email
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email


Over the last year archaeologists excavating the Colosseum in Rome have unearthed animal bones and coins. Now, they’ve discovered “snacks” that were consumed by the bloodthirsty spectators.

Dating back to 69 AD the Colosseum, or Flavian Amphitheater , of Rome was founded when Emperor Vespasian restored the city after the Civil War. This 6-acre display of Roman engineering served as a centre of entertainment in the heart of the city between the Esquiline, Palatine and Caelian Hills.

According to a research article on Engineering Rome at 48 meters (157.48 ft) high it represents the “tallest ruin in Rome.” Over the last year a team of archaeologists have been draining the Colosseum. Now, according to a Reuters press release, their inventory of discoveries includes over 50 bronze coins dating to the late Roman period and a rare silver coin from 170-171 AD celebrating 10 years of emperor Marcus Aurelius’ rule.

Besides these valuable coins the excavators have recovered the fragmentary bones of the bears and big cats that fought in gladiatorial games. But now, Dr. Jo Ball from the University of Liverpool, Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology Department, has Tweeted saying “traces of olives and nuts, and the seeds from figs, grapes and melons” represent discards from spectators’ snacks.

A selection of fruit seeds, stones, & pits recovered from the drainage system of the Colosseum in #Rome, remains of the snacks eaten by #Roman spectators watching the games in the arena up to 1900 years ago #RomanArchaeology pic.twitter.com/qrSSRQUIYB

— Dr Jo Ball (@DrJEBall) July 2, 2022

Their Nuts and Melons Are Our Popcorn and Beer

The Colosseum could hold an estimated 50,000 to 80,000 spectators and it was used for reenactments of famous battles and Roman mythology , but also animal hunts and mortal combat where gladiators and competitors fought to the death, for a chance of freedom.

In a statement, Alfonsina Russo, Director of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, said the discovery of the snacks “deepens the understanding of the experience and habits of those who came to this place during the long days dedicated to the performances.” In other words, an event in the Colosseum without “olives, nuts, figs, grapes and melons” would be akin to a family movie without popcorn or a football game without hotdogs and beer.

Dietary Differences, Then and Now

You might have noticed the one big difference between the snacks of ancient Roman sports fans and those of modern spectators. The Roman snacks “olives, nuts, figs, grapes and melons” help one avoid ill health, whereas modern snacks assure one will eventually use their medical insurance. A 2021 BBC article explains that grains, legumes, vegetables, eggs and cheeses were the base of the Roman diet , with fruit and honey added for sweetness.

In Jo-Ann Shelton’s 1998 book “ As the Romans did: a sourcebook in Roman social history ” she writes:

“Snacking in ancient Rome required money which most did not have” and that the wealthy “would eat so lavishly we can hardly imagine it.”

The author points towards a letter from Pliny the Younger to Septicius describing a list of “snacks” which comprised a dinner:

“one head of lettuce for each of us, three snails and two eggs each, barley soup along with mead and snow, olives, beets, cucumbers, onions, and a thousand other items no less sumptuous… also oysters, sow’s wombs, and sea urchins.”

Snacking Amidst Carnage

Perhaps the most bizarre aspect of the snacks discovered in the Colosseum was the environment in which they were consumed. Nuts and melons were eaten by spectators at the Colosseum for over four centuries, during which an estimated that “ 400,000 people died ” within the walls of just this one amphitheater. That’s about 1,000 deaths per year.

Today, a fright in a movie might cause popcorn to fall, and a dropped football can cause beers to spill, but in ancient Rome there was one thing in particular that made spectators spit out their nuts and melons in horror, and that was weakness! Gladiatorial training assured that competitors knew how to fight animals and each other, but also how to die gracefully with honor. The elites knew that when the competitors fought “spectacularly” the spectators stayed longer, and bought more snacks.

Top image: Remains of healthy snacks have been found at the Colosseum, Rome. Source: Amith/Adobe Stock

By Ashley Cowie





Source link

Related

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr WhatsApp Email
Previous ArticleParanormal investigator snaps face of ‘ghost child’ in haunted fort
Next Article No. 1 Georgia finishes strong to remain undefeated, beats Georgia Tech for fifth straight time
Steinar
  • Website
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest

Related Posts

Oldest Bone Projectile Point in the Americas Found Stuck in a Mastodon’s Rib!

February 5, 2023

Uncharted Section of Augustan Aqueduct Discovered Beneath Naples

February 5, 2023

Thornborough Henges: England’s Majestic Stonehenge of the North Finally Opened to the Public

February 4, 2023

Seven Haunted Monuments and Their Violent Past

February 4, 2023

Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Categories
  • Anomalies (950)
  • Icebutik Store (271)
  • Odd News (1,506)
  • Unexplained-mysteries (759)
  • Unexplained-phenomena (1,522)
  • Weird (10)
  • World (1,387)

Subscribe to Updates

Get the latest creative news from FooBar about art, design and business.

Loading
Latest Posts

Situation in east Ukraine getting tougher, says Zelensky

February 5, 2023

Scientist proposes conventional explanation for sightings of Bigfoot

February 5, 2023

Maryland middle schooler brings loaded gun into classroom

February 5, 2023
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
© 2023 Designed by icebutik

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.