ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to witness the paradoxical nature of Roman festal ideology, as Greek ideals of equality and participation by the community inevitably came into conflict with Roman concerns rank and status among the political elite. Closely tied to Roman festal behavior was a distinctive vocabulary of meals, which, although equally difficult to trace historically, nevertheless helps to understand more fully the ancient dining experience. As a final dining experience to consider, public banquets offered by the emperor or private benefactors formed a colorful and important strand in the festal tapestry of the Roman world. Turning first to the emperor, his public feasts likely had their origins in the banquets furnished by Hellenistic monarchs. The nature of imperially sponsored public feasts depended largely on the interests and personality of the sponsoring emperor and how the sources chose to portray imperial munificence.
