Roman Banquet Connects Students With the Ancient World

Middle School Latin teacher Cathy Favreau says, “The Roman cena is part of the Grade 6 curriculum. The students have just finished studying about Roman food and dining habits, as well as Roman clothing.” She notes that this is the 25th year she’s overseen this event, and it reflects her instructional approach. She believes that to understand Latin, you need to understand the ancient Romans themselves. “They were a people in time,” Favreau says. “Why not learn about the people who spoke Latin?” Doing so, says Favreau, brings the subject matter alive, helping students learn and retain the language.

In 25 years, she’s accumulated a lot of know-how—and a lot of togas. “The kids dress up because I have a whole bin full of tunicas, togas, stolas, and so on,” says Favreau. Thursday morning, students combed through those bins, amid exclamations of “There’s some good togas in here” and “I love your belt!”

Once the Roman garb had been selected, it was time to enter the banquet hall, or Prince B, as it’s more commonly known. Favreau had set out low tables surrounded by pillows, to facilitate the Roman style of dining. “The name of the game is flexibility,” Favreau told the excited party guests. “You’re going to lie on your left side and eat with your right hand. You’re going to see foods that are unfamiliar. If you’re a picky eater, just lean into the discomfort. These are time-tested recipes.”

Time-tested indeed. “I put together a list of common and fairly tasty Roman recipes, and the kids all choose something to bring to the meal,” said Favreau. “These are authentic recipes from a Roman cookbook from the first century A.D.” There was bread that resembled loaves found in the ruins of Pompeii, cucumbers that served as palate cleansers, hard-boiled eggs, meatballs, and other offerings that would have been recognizable to the ancients.

The activity, says Favreau, also involves role-playing, with each student assuming the identity of a fictional but particular person. The premise is that “the master of the house is throwing a dinner party for his wife, and a bunch of different friends are coming over for dinner.”

Students reclining on pillows munched enthusiastically as they pondered what the cuisine of Ancient Rome might have included—or not. “They had no tomatoes,” said one student. Even more unthinkable, chimed in another, “They had no sugar.” But as the cena demonstrated, the ancient table nonetheless offered plenty of food, and food for thought.