Author
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Topic: Purging at Feasts
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darkmorpheus13 Member
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posted 08-28-2000 05:13 PM
Me and a friend got in to a discussion on early medieval times and the subject came up of purging during feasts. We were wondering, since both of us had heard that there is a small tower or room located of the banquet hall where you would go to purge your food, so that you may come back and eat more. Is this true? What is the room name? What culture did this and where could we find more info? Thanks |
Philip Davis unregistered
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posted 09-02-2000 03:48 PM
As far as I'm aware this was a practice in Classical Roman times and the room was called a vomitorium. In medieval times feasting by the wealth could be lavish and I'm sure resulted in pucking but I've never seen a medieval vomitorium and don't think vomiting was an accepted part of feasting (ie I'm sure it happened but it wasn't meant to happen). Purges were given to induce vomiting for medical reasons, along with blood letting and other such practices design to reestablish the correct balance of the bodily humours. I'm not sure if the classical Roman practice was done in either ancient Greece or in Byzantium.------------------ And as I rode by Dalton-Hall Beneath the turrets high, A maiden on the castle-wall Was singing merrily: The Outlaw by Sir Walter Scott http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html | |