Who would throw dinner parties meant to scare the daylights out of their guests? Some emperors in ancient Rome would!
The traditional Roman banquet wasn't just a party. It was a power move for Roman emperors. Banquets gave them an opportunity to show off, treat their friends to fabulous food from across the empire, and keep an eye on their enemies. Some emperors were exceedingly distrustful. Wary of any hint of wavering loyalty, these rulers developed such paranoia that, historians say, they executed anyone suspected of turning against them. Even members of their own families wouldn't be spared. And no evidence of betrayal was needed.
No Joke
One example is Emperor Caligula. He ruled from 37 to 41 CE. Described by scholars as moody and unpredictable, Caligula once killed a man and then forced the man's father to eat dinner with him the same day. The father, fearing Caligula might kill him or his other son, could only put on a brave face, chatting and chuckling with the emperor through the meal.
During some of Caligula's infamous banquets, he would burst out laughing. When his dinner guests asked why, he would tell them how funny it was that he could have any of them executed at any time.
Harmless Prank or Death Threat?
Domitian served as a Roman emperor from 81 to 96 CE and became notorious for his reign of terror. Scholars note that Domitian was so on edge all the time that he lined his walls with rocks polished to a mirror sheen so that he could watch his back as he walked down the hallway. His paranoia also reportedly led him to execute his nephew and force his niece into exile.
One evening, Domitian invited some senators over for a dinner party. When his guests arrived, they were escorted into a banquet hall painted black from floor to ceiling. They found tombstones at their seats—engraved with their names. Then, they were served a meal traditionally intended to honor the dead.
Fortunately, historical records show that all the dinner guests left the party alive. So, was Domitian's dinner party simply a playful prank? Or was it an unspoken warning for his guests to watch their backs? No one knows for sure.
Deathly Flora and Fauna
Emperor Elagabalus, who ruled from 218 to 222 CE, is associated with a deadly dinner party, although scholars note there's no firm evidence that it really happened. The story says that Elagabalus had a false ceiling constructed with a tilted roof. He arranged for thousands of flowers to rain down from the ceiling as his guests savored their dinner. So many flowers poured down that some of the guests were supposedly smothered to death. During another dinner party, Elagabalus reportedly served fake food and released tame lions and leopards to wander loose among his party guests. Nobody was harmed, but his dinner companions were likely petrified.
The Price Is Fright
These banquets and their scare tactics were pricey for the empire and left less money available to help the citizens. Everyday people struggled to buy food to survive. Meanwhile, the emperors got their kicks out of scaring their guests. Those Romans had enough to eat, but they probably wondered if they would live through these fearsome feasts.
QUESTION 1
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What is this Article primarily about?
The everyday people of ancient Rome struggled to survive, while the emperors threw pricey dinner parties for their guests.
No one was harmed after Emperor Elagabalus let tame lions and leopards wander loose during a banquet.
There is no firm evidence that a deadly dinner party associated with Emperor Elagabalus ever really happened.
Some ancient Roman emperors enjoyed showing off their power by hosting banquets that terrified their guests.
Some ancient Roman emperors enjoyed showing off their power by hosting banquets that terrified their guests.
According to the Article, how were emperors Domitian and Elagabalus different?
Domitian had a party with tombstones and a meal that honored the dead, while Elagabalus had a party with fake food and wandering lions and leopards.
Domitian had a party with fake food and thousands of flowers, while Elagabalus had a party with tombstones and a meal that honored the dead.
Domitian had a tilted roof and a hallway lined with polished rocks, while Elagabalus had a false ceiling and a banquet hall painted black.
Domitian had a false ceiling and a banquet hall painted black, while Elagabalus had a tilted roof and a hallway lined with polished rocks.
Domitian had a party with tombstones and a meal that honored the dead, while Elagabalus had a party with fake food and wandering lions and leopards.
Which statement is a fact?
The dinner parties thrown by some ancient Roman emperors show how horrible the leaders were at that time.
The thousands of flowers that rained down from one emperor's ceiling would have been beautiful to see.
One emperor forced a father to sit with him through a dinner, after he had killed the man's son that same day.
It's unfortunate that the regular citizens of ancient Rome struggled to buy food to survive, while the emperors hosted pricey banquets.
One emperor forced a father to sit with him through a dinner, after he had killed the man's son that same day.
Which is the closest synonym for the word infamous?
prosperous
luxurious
miscellaneous
notorious
notorious
According to the Article, what is one reason why ancient Roman emperors held banquets?
Emperors wanted to serve meals that were intended for honoring the dead.
Banquets were a way for emperors to keep an eye on their enemies.
Banquets were a way for emperors to let their wild animals wander loose.
Emperors wanted to tell their guests they had the ability to execute them.
Banquets were a way for emperors to keep an eye on their enemies.
Which question is not answered by the Article?
How many guests were supposedly smothered by the flowers at Elagabalus's banquet?
How was Domitian able to watch his back as he walked down his hallway?
Why were people sometimes executed by emperors without any evidence of betrayal?
Why did a father chuckle through a meal with Caligula after his son was killed?