Dining was an important social occasion in the classical world. Scenes of drinking and dining decorate the wall paintings and mosaic pavements of many Roman houses. They are also painted in tombs and carved in relief on sarcophagi and on innumerable smaller grave monuments. Drawing frequently upon ancient literature inscriptions as well as archaeological evidence, this book examines the visual and material evidence for dining through Roman antiquity. Topics covered include the relationship between Greek and Roman dining habits; the social significance of reclining when dining in public; the associations between dining scenes and death; the changing fashions of dining at the end of antiquity; and the use of banquet scenes in the art of early Christianity. Richly illustrated, The Roman Banquet offers a full and varied picture of the role of the banquet in Roman life.