A Taste of the Ancient World

<BODY BGCOLOR="#EA4F44" LINK="#FFBD97" VLINK="#FD8B4D" ALINK="#FFFFFF"> <CENTER><H1> <A NAME="top">A Taste of the Ancient World</A></H1></CENTER><BR> <CENTER><H3><B>an exhibit about Greco-Roman eating and drinking, farming and starving presented by undergraduates in <A HREF="http://www.umich.edu/~salcock/Food.html">Classical Civilization 452 <I>Food in the Ancient World</I></A></B></H3></CENTER> <P> <CENTER><B>The Kelsey Museum of Archaeology<BR> October 24th, 1996-July 21st, 1997</B></CENTER><P> <P> <HR WIDTH=90% SIZE=3> In our own society, there is no escaping the significance of food. Food and drink keep us alive. They feed our imagination and stimulate our senses. They communicate beliefs. They distinguish rich from poor. They are a blessing that can sometimes become a curse.<P> Each of these statements would have been equally true in the ancient Mediterranean world. This exhibit has been designed by undergraduate students to provide just a 'taste' of the complexities of Greco-Roman food production and consumption. <P> Many - but by no means all! - of the 'food-related' objects in the holdings of the Kelsey Museum are physically on display. This electronic exhibit is designed to showcase other items that are kept in storage, and to expand the range of artifacts we can study to explore the significance of food in the ancient world. <P> <P> <HR WIDTH=90%> The exhibit is divided into five parts:<P> <A HREF="#table">Table Wares</A><BR> <A HREF="#karanis">Karanis: A Farming Town in Roman Egypt</A><BR> <A HREF="#fishy">Fishy Matters</A><BR> <A HREF="#coins">Coins</A><BR> <A HREF="#reldea">Religion and Death</A><P><P> <HR WIDTH=90%> <B> <A NAME="table">Table Wares</A></B><BR> The examples illustrated here demonstrate just some of the variety of objects - from highly decorated and rich, to extremely plain and poor - that could have been used at the dinner table in the ancient world.<P><P> <CENTER> <A HREF="imagepages/KM2644.html"><IMG WIDTH=60 HEIGHT=48 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM2644.JPG"><BR>KM 2644</A><BR>Bird-shaped Jug<BR>Mid 4th-early 3rd century BC<BR>Teano, Italy<BR> <TABLE BORDERS=0 CELLPADDING=10 CELLSPACING=10><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/utensils.html"><IMG WIDTH=68 HEIGHT=52 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM1872.JPG"><BR>KM 1872</A><BR>Bronze Wine Ladle<BR>Roman<BR>Fayoum, Egypt<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/utensils.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=40 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM1496.JPG"><BR>KM 1496</A><BR>Bronze Wine Ladle with Duck Handle<BR>Roman<BR>Pozzuoli, Italy<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/utensils.html"><IMG WIDTH=67 HEIGHT=41 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM1497.JPG"><BR>KM 1497</A><BR>Bronze Spoon<BR>Roman<BR>Pozzuoli, Italy<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> <A HREF="imagepages/filters.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=62 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM71-1-20.JPG"><BR>KM 71.1.20</A><BR>Water Filter<BR>10th-12th century AD<BR>Egypt<BR> <TABLE BORDERS=0 CELLPADDING=10 CELLSPACING=10><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/culinary.html"><IMG WIDTH=64 HEIGHT=59 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM7167a.JPG"><BR>KM 7167</A><BR>African Red Slip Ware vessel<BR>with stamped decoration of a lamb<BR>3rd-4th century AD<BR>Karanis, Egypt<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/culinary.html"><IMG WIDTH=68 HEIGHT=59 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM20978a.JPG"><BR>KM 20978</A><BR>African Red Slip Ware fragment<BR>with stamped decoration of a lamb<BR>3rd-4th century AD<BR>Karanis, Egypt<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> <TABLE BORDERS=0 CELLPADDING=10 CELLSPACING=10><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/potandbowl.html"><IMG WIDTH=49 HEIGHT=47 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM89802.JPG"><BR>KM 89802</A><BR>Cooking Pot<BR>ca. 100-200 AD<BR>Sepphoris, Israel<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/potandbowl.html"><IMG WIDTH=56 HEIGHT=36 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM89807.JPG"><BR>KM 89807</A><BR>Bowl<BR>ca. 100-200 AD<BR>Sepphoris, Israel<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> </CENTER> <HR WIDTH=90%> <A HREF="#table">Table Wares</A><BR> <A HREF="#karanis">Karanis: A Farming Town in Roman Egypt</A><BR> <A HREF="#fishy">Fishy Matters</A><BR> <A HREF="#coins">Coins</A><BR> <A HREF="#reldea">Religion and Death</A><BR> <A HREF="#top">-Back to the Top-</A><P><P> <HR WIDTH=90%> <B> <A NAME="karanis">Karanis: A Farming Town in Roman Egypt</A></B><BR> The site of Karanis in Roman Egypt was excavated by the University of Michigan, initially under the direction of Francis Kelsey himself, from 1924-35. The Michigan excavations took a great - and for that time unusual - interest in the 'daily life' of this ancient farming town. As a result, many humble, food-related items were carefully brought back to Ann Arbor and stored in the Kelsey Museum.<P><P> <CENTER> <TABLE BORDERS=0 CELLPADDING=10 CELLSPACING=10><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/mortarandpestle.html"><IMG WIDTH=57 HEIGHT=55 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM25877.JPG"><BR>KM 25877</A><BR>Mortar<BR>2nd-5th century AD<BR>Karanis, Egypt<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/mortarandpestle.html"><IMG WIDTH=65 HEIGHT=33 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM25852.JPG"><BR>KM 25852</A><BR>Pestle<BR>2nd-5th century AD<BR>Karanis, Egypt<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> <TABLE BORDERS=0 CELLPADDING=10 CELLSPACING=10><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/culinary.html"><IMG WIDTH=64 HEIGHT=59 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM7167a.JPG"><BR>KM 7167</A><BR>African Red Slip Ware vessel<BR>with stamped decoration of a lamb<BR>3rd-4th century AD<BR>Karanis, Egypt<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/culinary.html"><IMG WIDTH=68 HEIGHT=59 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM20978a.JPG"><BR>KM 20978</A><BR>African Red Slip Ware fragment<BR>with stamped decoration of a lamb<BR>3rd-4th century AD<BR>Karanis, Egypt<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> <A HREF="imagepages/dishes.html"><IMG WIDTH=72 HEIGHT=51 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM7313a.JPG"><BR>KM 7313a</A><BR>Cooking Pot<BR>2nd-4th century AD<BR>Karanis, Egypt<BR> <P><P> <A HREF="imagepages/KM94582.html"><IMG WIDTH=57 HEIGHT=87 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM94582a.JPG"><BR>KM 94582</A><BR>Limestone Incense Burner in the Shape of an altar<BR>Roman Period<BR>Unknown; possibly Karanis, Egypt?<BR> <P><P> <A HREF="imagepages/KM25898.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=44 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM25898.JPG"><BR>KM 25898</A><BR>Shallow libation altar (?)<BR>1st-3rd century AD<BR>Karanis, Egypt<BR> <P><P> <A HREF="imagepages/filters.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=62 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM71-1-20.JPG"><BR>KM 71.1.20</A><BR>Water Filter<BR>10th-12th century AD<BR>Egypt<BR> </CENTER> <HR WIDTH=90%> <A HREF="#table">Table Wares</A><BR> <A HREF="#karanis">Karanis: A Farming Town in Roman Egypt</A><BR> <A HREF="#fishy">Fishy Matters</A><BR> <A HREF="#coins">Coins</A><BR> <A HREF="#reldea">Religion and Death</A><BR> <A HREF="#top">-Back to the Top-</A><P><P> <HR WIDTH=90%> <B> <A NAME="fishy">Fishy Matters</A></B><BR> Fish were 'fishy' in the ancient world. While fish and fish-products provided a necessary relish to the heavily grain-based ancient diet, they were also perceived as having dangerous habits - a willingness to eat people for example...<P><P> <CENTER> <A HREF="imagepages/KM1084.html"><IMG WIDTH=62 HEIGHT=59 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM1084.JPG"><BR>KM 1084</A><BR>Red-figure fish plate<BR>Late 4th century BC<BR>Campania, Italy<BR> <TABLE BORDERS=0 CELLPADDING=10 CELLSPACING=10><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/stamps.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=62 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM88674.JPG"><BR>KM 88674</A><BR>Bread Stamp with fish<BR>Coptic or late Antique (ca. 500 AD)<BR>Askren, Egypt<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/stamps.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=62 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM88675.JPG"><BR>KM 88675</A><BR>Bread Stamp with fish<BR>Coptic or late Antique (ca. 500 AD)<BR>Askren, Egypt<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> <TABLE BORDERS=0 CELLPADDING=10 CELLSPACING=10><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/fishy.html"><IMG WIDTH=68 HEIGHT=41 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM81-4-30.JPG"><BR>KM 81.4.30</A><BR>Bronze Fish<BR>Late Saite Period, ca. 600 BC<BR>Egypt<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/fishy.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=38 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM65-3-135b.JPG"><BR>KM 65.3.135</A><BR>Head of Fish, glass inlay fragment<BR>1st BC-1st AD<BR>Egypt<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/fishy.html"><IMG WIDTH=51 HEIGHT=31 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM2725.JPG"><BR>KM 2725</A><BR>Dolphins painted on wall plaster<BR>2nd-early 3rd AD<BR>Probably from the Bay of Naples, Italy<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> <TABLE BORDERS=0 CELLPADDING=10 CELLSPACING=10><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/fishy.html"><IMG WIDTH=62 HEIGHT=45 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM2849.JPG"><BR>KM 2849</A><BR>Pottery fragment with fish<BR>2nd-early 3rd AD<BR>Probably from the Bay of Naples, Italy<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/fishy.html"><IMG WIDTH=72 HEIGHT=42 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM87129.JPG"><BR>KM 87129</A><BR>Bronze Head of Fish<BR>Ancient?<BR>Gaza, Israel<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/fishy.html"><IMG WIDTH=62 HEIGHT=41 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM69.2.76.JPG"><BR>KM 69.2.76</A><BR>Pottery fragment with painted fish<BR>Coptic or early Islamic 5th-9th AD<BR>Egypt<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> <A HREF="imagepages/filters.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=62 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM71-1-20.JPG"><BR>KM 71.1.20</A><BR>Water Filter<BR>10th-12th century AD<BR>Egypt<BR> </CENTER> <HR WIDTH=90%> <A HREF="#table">Table Wares</A><BR> <A HREF="#karanis">Karanis: A Farming Town in Roman Egypt</A><BR> <A HREF="#fishy">Fishy Matters</A><BR> <A HREF="#coins">Coins</A><BR> <A HREF="#reldea">Religion and Death</A><BR> <A HREF="#top">-Back to the Top-</A><P><P> <HR WIDTH=90%> <B> <A NAME="coins">Coins</A></B><BR> Communities and rulers in the ancient world used their coinage to make significant statements about themselves to the wider world. Food, or deities related to agricultural success, were not infrequently used as part of this propaganda.<P><P> <HR WIDTH=90%> <A HREF="#table">Table Wares</A><BR> <A HREF="#karanis">Karanis: A Farming Town in Roman Egypt</A><BR> <A HREF="#fishy">Fishy Matters</A><BR> <A HREF="#coins">Coins</A><BR> <A HREF="#reldea">Religion and Death</A><BR> <A HREF="#top">-Back to the Top-</A><P><P> <HR WIDTH=90%> <B> <A NAME="reldea">Religion and Death</A></B><BR> Gods were believed to watch over the success or failure of crops. Sacrifice - the offering of food to the gods - formed the principal link between mortals and the beings they worshipped. Death was observed, and the dead commemorated with meals. Nothing played a more integral role in religious practices and beliefs in the ancient world than the sharing, and consumption, of food. <P><P> <CENTER> <A HREF="imagepages/KM79-4-6.html"><IMG WIDTH=61 HEIGHT=41 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM79-4-6.JPG"><BR>KM 79.4.6</A><BR>Etruscan black glaze phiale<BR>Later 4th century BC<BR>Italy<BR> <P><P> <A HREF="imagepages/KM932.html"><IMG WIDTH=76 HEIGHT=51 SRC="http://www-personal.umich.edu/~cbt/images/KM932c.JPG"><BR>KM 932</A><BR>Marble inscription in Latin(74x48 cm)<BR>Late 1st-2nd century<BR>Pozzuoli, Italy (found in 1894)<BR> <P><P> <A HREF="imagepages/KM94582.html"><IMG WIDTH=57 HEIGHT=87 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM94582a.JPG"><BR>KM 94582</A><BR>Limestone Incense Burner in the Shape of an altar<BR>Roman Period<BR>Unknow; possibly Karanis, Egypt?<BR> <P><P> <A HREF="imagepages/KM25898.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=44 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM25898.JPG"><BR>KM 25898</A><BR>Shallow libation altar (?)<BR>1st-3rd century AD<BR>Karanis, Egypt<BR> <P><P> <A HREF="imagepages/KM1084.html"><IMG WIDTH=62 HEIGHT=59 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM1084.JPG"><BR>KM 1084</A><BR>Red-figure fish plate<BR>Late 4th century BC<BR>Campania, Italy<BR> <TABLE BORDERS=0 CELLPADDING=10 CELLSPACING=10><TR ALIGN=CENTER><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/stamps.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=62 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM88674.JPG"><BR>KM 88674</A><BR>Bread Stamp with fish<BR>Coptic or late Antique (ca. 500 AD)<BR>Askren, Egypt<BR></TD><TD> <A HREF="imagepages/stamps.html"><IMG WIDTH=63 HEIGHT=62 SRC="http://www.umich.edu/~kelseydb/Exhibits/Food/Images/KM88675.JPG"><BR>KM 88675</A><BR>Bread Stamp with fish<BR>Coptic or late Antique (ca. 500 AD)<BR>Askren, Egypt<BR> </TD></TR></TABLE> </CENTER> <HR WIDTH=90%> <A HREF="#table">Table Wares</A><BR> <A HREF="#karanis">Karanis: A Farming Town in Roman Egypt</A><BR> <A HREF="#fishy">Fishy Matters</A><BR> <A HREF="#coins">Coins</A><BR> <A HREF="#reldea">Religion and Death</A><BR> <A HREF="#top">-Back to the Top-</A><P><P> <HR WIDTH=90%> <P><P> <CENTER>All images presented here are copywrited by the Kelsey Museum of Archaeology.</CENTER> <P><P> <CENTER>Last updated 10/24/1996</CENTER><BR> This web page was created by <A HREF="MAILTO:cbt@umich.edu">Clay Blake-Thomas</A>, so if you have any comments about the web page please email me by clicking on my name. If there are any comments about the information presented here please email the course insturctor, <A HREF="MAILTO:salcock@umich.edu">Professor Sue Alcock</A>, by clicking on her name. </BODY>