"Food & Feasting in the Ancient World"

Previous participation and previous knowledge not required.

Week 1 Introduction: How and Why Should We Study Food?

This reading group explores food and feasting in the ancient Near East, focusing particularly on the social aspects of food preparation and consumption.

We will examine a variety of ancient sources, including paintings of feasts, seal impressions depicting banquet scenes, wooden models of bakers and beer brewers, economic documents, instruction and wisdom texts describing table manners, literary accounts of feasting, the world’s earliest recipes, and even a cure for a hangover. We will also address how scholars have used archaeological evidence such as animal bones, plant remains, and ceramics to identify and reconstruct ancient feasting practices.

Participants only need to register for each SASA Reading Group once. Once you RSVP you will receive a Confirmation Email, where you will find a link to the Live Syllabus for the Reading Group; with Zoom Meeting…