Immerse yourself in the sensual delights of Rome in all their guises. By the time of the emperors, the Romans had created the world's first global empire and plundered the provinces for produce to be eaten, planted or displayed as novelties. At the same time the aesthetics of the city of Rome was being transferred to the provinces, establishing towns with public buildings, baths and the Latin language. With these attributes of civilisation came other trappings of Roman culture: lavish entertainments, elaborate dinner parties and vice. The world of pleasure became a defining feature of the Romans and this book explores how they pursued sensual delights - from steamy bathhouses to stately country villas; the excesses of the festivals to the rich culture of music, dance and song and sex, as both unrestrained and puritanical.
Immerse yourself in the sensual delights of Rome in all their guises. By the time of the emperors, the Romans had created the world's first global empire and plundered the provinces for produce to be eaten, planted or displayed as novelties. At the same time the aesthetics of the city of Rome was being transferred to the provinces, establishing towns with public buildings, baths and the Latin language. With these attributes of civilisation came other trappings of Roman culture: lavish entertainments, elaborate dinner parties and vice. The world of pleasure became a defining feature of the Romans and this book explores how they pursued sensual delights - from steamy bathhouses to stately country villas; the excesses of the festivals to the rich culture of music, dance and song and sex, as both unrestrained and puritanical.
1: Introduction - Roman Passions 2: Into the World of Roman Pleasure 3: The Emperor's Pleasures 4: The Aesthetics of the City 5: A Little Place in the Country 6: The Roman Body at the Baths 7: Roman Erotics 8: Dining 9: Food and Wine 10: A Great Song and Dance 11: Violence 12: Collectors and Collections 13: Pleasure transforms Roman culture Timeline Glossary of terms Further Reading Bibliography Index
Immerse yourself in the sensual delights of Rome in all their guises.
Ray Laurence is Professor of Ancient History at Macquarie University (Sydney, Australia). He has been instrumental in re-thinking and re-conceptualising key areas of Roman history, including urbanism, roads and communications, as well as childhood and the family. His work engages with other disciplines and seeks to move Roman historical research into new areas, such as the cultural history of shopping.
"What's not to like about a guidebook through the consumerist
wonderland of ancient Rome, a breezy tour of conspicuous living,
lavish dining, mass spectacle, and, of course, sex? ... The book
provides general readers with an engaging introduction to early
Roman social history. Summing up: Highly
recommended."CHOICE
'Really quite rude, quite often - I'm enjoying that hugely! ...
Just what you need really to help you drift peacefully off to
sleep' - Lindsey Davis's 'Bedtime Read', The Book Show, Sky
Arts
'It is all here: emperors' luxurious lifestyles, magnificent urban
architecture, grand country villas, baths, sex, food, drink, the
theatre, games (especially violent ones) and collecting and
displaying rarities ... Commendably detailed.' - Peter Jones, BBC
History Magazine
‘A detailed exposition of the world of late Roman culture.'
*Times Higher Education*
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