03 Sep 2020
Year 11 Ancient History students today undertook learning with a difference.
Under instruction of Head Teacher HSIE, the students recreated classical Greek and Roman dishes as part of their study on ‘Women in Ancient Greece and Rome’.
Students made:
Parthian Chicken - a dish originating in Parthia in the Middle East and adopted by the Ancient Romans.
"Libum" Cheesecake- A sacrificial cake often spoken about by poets.
Delian Sweets - A Greek sweet given to the goddess Iris.
Salt Meat Stew - The recipe found on Greek Papyrus in Egypt and is a peasant dish.
"Teganitai" Pancakes with Honey and Sesame seeds - An Ancient Athenian breakfast and street food.
All the above were from recipes uncovered in written ancient sources, adapted by historians to suit modern ingredients.
For example: ‘Libum’ or cheesecake, according to Virgil, Ovid, Horace, and other Latin authors, was a ritual food prepared as an annual offering to the gods.
There were many ways to prepare it. Virgil writes of a ‘Libum’ offered with milk to Priapus; Ovid of one prepared with millet for Vesta, of another eaten with honey for Liber.
Inspirational!