Unusual By Today's Standards!

[Gaius Octavius]

On this particular Forum, there is a thread titled: "Pliny On The Efficacy Of Superstition". Some interesting practices there.

 

One day I'll learn this computer stuff.

[Andrew Dalby]

Are you fellows reclining on your stomachs, no the Romans would be lying on one side while doing this, it allowed them to have a spare arm while reclining on the other, and just to let you folks know, don't use any forks or what not. Romans ate with hands... Therefore any Roman food was bite size so to speak, making sure that one didn't have too much in one bite. So to point out, there way of eating works perfectly well when mixed with other aspects of culture.

 

Must have been tough on the elbows.

When on their stomachs, hope no one was under them! :wub:

 

Even if not directly one-on-one, as Octavius is suggesting, there was apparently the opportunity for a bit of byplay under the togas etc. Ovid, I seem to remember, claims to have brought a girl to climax while lying next to her at dinner. Unfortunately, as so often with ancient history, the evidence is incomplete. We know what Ovid said, but what would the girl have said about it?

[caldrail]

Even if not directly one-on-one, as Octavius is suggesting, there was apparently the opportunity for a bit of byplay under the togas etc. Ovid, I seem to remember, claims to have brought a girl to climax while lying next to her at dinner. Unfortunately, as so often with ancient history, the evidence is incomplete. We know what Ovid said, but what would the girl have said about it?

 

(groan) Now I doubt Ovid was being entirely honest. Romans were very macho so a little manly boasting wasn't amiss.

 

Actually I'm jealous. But then modern clothes and manners don't really allow for this do they? Or am I attending the wrong parties?

[Gaius Octavius]

A.D. I like Ovid's style. I'll have to give it a go. Can't see how any eating gets done, yet, I think that it would be quite a (scientific) experiment for the entire board. The reports should be of great 'scientific' value.

Well, that is if the morality police don't put the lot of us into irons

 

Even if not directly one-on-one, as Octavius is suggesting, there was apparently the opportunity for a bit of byplay under the togas etc. Ovid, I seem to remember, claims to have brought a girl to climax while lying next to her at dinner. Unfortunately, as so often with ancient history, the evidence is incomplete. We know what Ovid said, but what would the girl have said about it?

 

(groan) Now I doubt Ovid was being entirely honest. Romans were very macho so a little manly boasting wasn't amiss.

 

Actually I'm jealous. But then modern clothes and manners don't really allow for this do they? Or am I attending the wrong parties?

 

Where there is smoke, there is fire.

 

Good grief, man! Ever hear of a Toga party? Use your imagination. In lieu of that, there is a 'nude' restaurant in NYC.

[Pantagathus]

Actually I'm jealous. But then modern clothes and manners don't really allow for this do they? Or am I attending the wrong parties?

 

There are short skirts & tablecloths these days...

[M. Porcius Cato]

Plutarch has a list of questions about Rome that is a gold-mine of practices that are unusual by today's standards. As just one--husbands did not give gifts to their wives. That's really hard to imagine.