ABSTRACT
The spectacle of the middle Byzantine banquet incorporated the guests and their food, the objects on the table, their display and the entertainments that accompanied the banquet. Its dramatic impact was achieved through the material splendour of dining, in particular the highly skilled application of glaze and decoration to ceramic vessels, and the performance of both the presentation of tableware and of the entertainers present in dining spaces. Bowls and plates needed to be handled, moved and turned to be fully appreciated, with the adding and taking away of food obscuring and exposing different parts of an image. The way that the artworks were brought to the table was carefully designed to heighten the sensation of awe produced through the objects’ visual richness. Many ceramic and metal vessels depict entertainers and activities that featured prominently in Byzantine dining spaces, with their imagery revealing the close link between dining and the entertainments of music, dance and acrobatics. Sound and movement punctuated the ceremony of the banquet by creating moments of suspense, delight and laughter. The images on tableware highlight that, like a good piece of theatre, the performances surrounding the middle Byzantine dinner table could produce both comedic effects and morally elevating results. This duality highlights the ambivalent and fluctuating perception of entertainers.
