Roman Soldier\'s Diet-Different than you might expect?

[Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs]

Here's an interesting article that sheds some light on the soldiers' diet.
http://ancienthistory.about.com/od/roma ... erDiet.htm

See what you think.

[Carus Andiae]

Interesting, though not particularly new.

I assume the archaeological remains were in sufficient quantities and/or in a location that they could be fairly reliably interpretated ashaving been part of the diet of the ordinary milites, rather than the tribunes, legates etc, who presumably would have had a rather superior diet.

[Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs]

Yes,although I found the part about beer to be a surprise.Some of us at last week's event were discussing that.I believe they were supplied a wine ration,right? Some of it seemed to make sense.If you're hungry and run low on grain then meat would be an option. I'd hate to be a chicken or goat wandering by.Maybe the sacrificial offerings were less if the men were hungry.

[Carus Andiae]

Sour wine, I think.

I've seen photos of re-enacters doing spatchcock chicken over a camp fire, using their pila as skewers.

[Gaivs Antonivs Satvrninvs]

We had roast chicken for breakfast at Castra Mobile. We didn't use pila though,but regular skewers. Very tasty. If only someone had thought to bring the sour wine. Speaking of wine,the newsbot on Roman wine today is very good,too.

[Caius Fabius]

Yes,although I found the part about beer to be a surprise.Some of us at last week's event were discussing that.I believe they were supplied a wine ration,right? Some of it seemed to make sense.If you're hungry and run low on grain then meat would be an option. I'd hate to be a chicken or goat wandering by.Maybe the sacrificial offerings were less if the men were hungry.

:lol: actually 'the gods' were said to like the parts that humans didn't eat, so usually the 'leftovers' from sacrifices were eaten by priests, ceremony participants, etc..... :roll: Maybe there were MORE sacrifices if the men were hungry.... 8)

[SOCL]

Funny.
When we were at Mobile, I was inside the hotel eating one of those huge loafs the barbarians made for us and suddenly this gentleman in a suit, there for a conference enters the elevator. We started talking about Roman food and he reveals to me that he's a food specialist. Eventually he gets to saying that beer is a far better way to preserve grain than bread or anything else. So perhaps beer at reenactments would be accurate? :lol:

[Tarbicus]

Funny.
When we were at Mobile, I was inside the hotel eating one of those huge loafs the barbarians made for us and suddenly this gentleman in a suit, there for a conference enters the elevator. We started talking about Roman food and he reveals to me that he's a food specialist. Eventually he gets to saying that beer is a far better way to preserve grain than bread or anything else. So perhaps beer at reenactments would be accurate? :lol:

It was either Scientific American or New Scientist (or some such) which had an article saying that there's a far higher likelihood that beer pre-dates bread. Simply because there's a greater chance of the grains falling into and fermenting in water and the people drinking it, it also being highly nutritional.

[Gaius_Calvus]

The Egyptians were the oldest recorded brewers of beer. When wine (sour or otherwise) was not available, then beer was issued to the legions in lieu of wine.

Instead of a wine ration, it's probably more accurate to speak of a "spirits" ration, with wine (sour) the preferred beverage.

Edge

[SOCL]

Instead of a wine ration, it's probably more accurate to speak of a "spirits" ration, with wine (sour) the preferred beverage.

Is this something we can look forward to at the event in Atlanta? :wink: Perhaps some fake wine, in addition to the bread/grain, to add to the ration formation?

[Gaius_Calvus]

Absolutely.

Since the event is pretty much in my front yard, I'm having a barbecue and low-country boil for all the Romans that attend in my back yard -- and we will have a spirit's ration.

If you are 21 or older, of course. :wink:

Edge

[Gaius Antinius Salis]

Salve,
I would have thought that while in the field, any meal available would have been gladly eaten whether it be grain or meat based.
Furthermore, foraging was down to the individual soldier, therefore one would expect meat to be part of that foraging process along with any other available foods.?

[Gaius_Calvus]

Gaius,

Absolutely. When you are hungry, you are hungry. I think this thread was focusing on a "issue" diet as opposed to "emergency" or "available" diet. Caesar's legionaries ate some fairly rank chow during the Pharsalus campaign.

Regarding foraging -- this was NOT left to the individual Soldier, except on an opportunity basis. While foraged food was certainly used when required it was not always possible (depending on the season) and was not the preferred means to feed troops because of the time it took to do so, and potential impacts on the population if in friendly territory.

Especially in hostile territory, if foraging was employed, this was done as a regular military operation with planning, security, etc -- sending individual legionaries out to find food was a great way to invite either desertion or ambush.

Edge

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

such as Caesars expeditions to Britain!

[Memmia]

Salve,

I too was under the impression that the Romans weren't great meat eaters, and too much meat was seen as a Barbarian practice.

Also, was it seen as Barbarian to drink milk ?

Nice article

P.S. What exactly is sour wine ? I've seen reference to it many times.
Was it just dilute vinegar or similar ?