Ancient Rome: Sources

Work Author Year Type Source Description Link Amazon Tags
Historia Augusta Various 350 CE (*) Histories Primary Collection of thirty-one biographies of the Roman emperors from 117 to 284 CE. Written by six different authors during the reigns of Diocletian and Constantine the Great. The validity of the works must be treated with caution; the collection contains one-hundred and fifty alleged documents, sixty-eight letters, sixty speeches and twenty senatorial decrees - all of which are now believed to be fake. Volume 1, Volume 2, Volume 3 Link Emperors, Augustan Histories, History
De Re Coquinaria Apicius 50 CE (*) Cook Book Primary

Collection of Roman recipes, alternatively known as the ‘De re coquinaria’ (On the Subject of Cooking). The work is dated to the late fourth or early fifth century and was written by Apicius Caelius. The text allows us to gain a better understanding of the culinary habits of the wealthiest classes in ancient Rome and around the surrounding regions.

The name 'Apicius' had been long associated with excessively refined food. This is because of Marcus Gavius Apicius, a wealthy man who lived in the first century CE and was famous for his for elaborate tastes.

"Apicius, the most gluttonous gorger of all spendthrifts, established the view that the flamingo's tongue has a specially fine flavour" - Pliny

  • Book 1 - Epimeles (The Careful Housekeeper)
  • Book 2 - Sarcoptes (The Meat Mincer)
  • Book 3 - Cepuros (The Gardener)
  • Book 4 - Pandecter (Many Ingredients)
  • Book 5 - Ospreon (Pulse)
  • Book 6 - Aeropetes (Birds)
  • Book 7 - Polyteles (The Gourmet)
  • Book 8 - Tetrapus (The Quadruped)
  • Book 9 - Thalassa (The Sea)
  • Book 10 - Halieus (The Fisherman)
Link Link Culture, Food, Recipes

(*) = Estimate

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