Cookery and Dining in Imperial Rome Part 36

AND COOK THE BEANS, IN A RICH MANNER, REMOVE THE SEEDS AND SERVE [as a Salad [2]], WITH HARD EGGS, GREEN FENNEL, PEPPER, BROTH, A LITTLE REDUCED WINE AND A LITTLE SALT, OR SERVE THEM IN SIMPLER WAYS, AS YOU MAY SEE FIT.

[1] The original continues with the preceding formula.

[2] For a salad we would add finely chopped onion, pepper, and some lemon juice.

The purpose of removing the seeds is obscure. G.-V.

reads _semine c.u.m ovis_; Tac. _semie_; Hum. _s. c.u.m lobis_. The pa.s.sage may mean to sprinkle (sow) with hard boiled (and finely chopped) eggs, which is often done on a salad and other dishes.

END OF BOOK V

_EXPLICIT APICII OSPRION LIBER QUINTUS_ [Tac.]

{Ill.u.s.tration: ADJUSTABLE TABLE

Polychrome marble in bronze frame. Four elaborately designed bronze legs, braced and hinged, so that the table may be raised or lowered.

The legs end in claw feet resting on a molded base. Above they are encircled with leaves, from which emerge young satyrs, each holding a rabbit under the left arm. The legs below the acanthus leaves are ornamented with elaborate floral patterns, inlaid, with other inlaid patterns on the connecting braces and around the frame of the marble top. Bronze and marble tables that could be folded and taken down after banquets were used by the Babylonians centuries before this table was designed in Pompeii. Ntl. Mus., Naples, 72994; Field M.

24290.}

APICIUS

Book VI

{Ill.u.s.tration: THE GREAT CRATER

Found at Hildesheim in 1868. This and a number of other pieces form the collection known as The Hildesheim Treasure, now at the Kaiser Friedrich Museum, Berlin.

This wine crater is entirely of silver, a piece of supreme workmans.h.i.+p of Roman origin. Very delicate decoration, antic.i.p.ating the Renaissance: Winged griffins and other monsters, half ox, half lion, at the base; aquatic animals, genii angling and spearing fish.

There is a second vessel inside, acting as a liner, to take the weight of the fluid off the decorated bowl. The complete weight is 9451.8 gr., but the inner liner is stamped CVM BASI PONDO x.x.xXI--41 pounds with the base. The weight of silver pieces was inscribed as a check on the slaves.

The bowl is 0.36 meter (about 14-1/4 inches) in height and 0.353 meter in diameter. It stands on the tripod which is depicted separately.}

{Ill.u.s.tration: THE DIONYSOS CUP

The Dionysos head in the center and the two satyrs are modeled realistically by a most able artist. Lion and lioness heads on the other side. Hildesheim Treasure.}

BOOK VI. FOWL

_Lib. VI. Aeropetes_ [1]

CHAP. I. OSTRICH.

CHAP. II. CRANE OR DUCK, PARTRIDGE, DOVES, WOOD PIGEON, SQUAB AND DIVERS BIRDS.

CHAP. III. THRUSH [2].

CHAP. IV. FIGp.e.c.k.e.r [2].

CHAP. V. PEAc.o.c.k [2].

CHAP. VI. PHEASANT [2].

CHAP. VII. GOOSE.

CHAP. VIII. CHICKEN.

[1] Tac., Tor. _Trophetes_; probably an error in their rendering. List. _Aeroptes_, Greek for Fowl.

[2] The t.i.tles of these chapters and the cla.s.sification is not adhered in the text of Book VI. The chapters are actually inscribed as follows:

Chap. I, Ostrich; II, Crane or Duck, Partridge, Turtle Dove, Wood Pigeon, Squab and divers birds; III, Partridge, Heathc.o.c.k (Woodc.o.c.k), Turtle Dove; IV, Wood Pigeon, Squab [Domestic Fattened Fowl, Flamingo]; V, Sauce for divers birds; VI, Flamingo; VII, In Order That Birds May Not Be Spoiled; VIII, Goose; IX, Chicken.

I

OSTRICH _IN STRUTHIONE_

[210] BOILED OSTRICH _IN STRUTHIONE ELIXO_

[A stock in which to cook ostrich] PEPPER, MINT, c.u.mIN, LEEKS [1], CELERY SEED, DATES, HONEY, VINEGAR, RAISIN WINE, BROTH, A LITTLE OIL.

BOIL THIS IN THE STOCK KETTLE [with the ostrich, remove the bird when done, strain the liquid] THICKEN WITH ROUX. [To this sauce] ADD THE OSTRICH MEAT CUT IN CONVENIENT PIECES, SPRINKLE WITH PEPPER. IF YOU WISH IT MORE SEASONED OR TASTY, ADD GARLIC [during coction].

[1] G.-V. _c.u.minum_; Tor. _C., porrum_, which is more likely.

[211] ANOTHER OSTRICH STEW _ALITER [in] STRUTHIONE ELIXO_

PEPPER, LOVAGE, THYME, ALSO SATURY, HONEY, MUSTARD, VINEGAR, BROTH AND OIL.

II

CRANE, DUCK, PARTRIDGE, DOVE, WOOD PIGEON, SQUAB, AND DIVERS BIRDS _IN GRUE VEL ANATE PERDICE TURTURE PALUMBO COLUMBO ET DIVERSIS AVIBUS_