Posts: 21
Threads: 9
Joined: Oct 2007
Reputation:
0
I was wondering about what the legions ate.
Rations, seperate prepared meals by cooks in the legions, or did they cook themselves?
"I, want to rock n\'\'\'\'\'\'\'\' roll all night, and party everyday!" -KISS 8) <img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_cool.gif" alt="8)" title="Cool" />8)
Sean
Posts: 415
Threads: 58
Joined: Feb 2007
Reputation:
0
There is a whole section on food under the Ancient Civ. Category. Or try this:
http://www.romanarmy.com/rat/viewforum.php?f=40
I have a few books at home on Roman Cooking, I can dig up the titles for you too.
Titvs Calidivs Agricola
Wes Olson
Twas a woman that drove me to drink, and I never thanked her. W.C. Fields
Posts: 1,086
Threads: 72
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
We have no evidence for any functionary or specialist cook in the Roman military, though we can not exclude that they had specialised millers and bakers at a late date (equipment for large-scale processing is occasionally excavated). Other than that - see above.
Der Kessel ist voll Bärks!
Volker Bach
Posts: 27
Threads: 2
Joined: Oct 2006
Reputation:
0
Salve,
From the info I have looked at it would seem that rather than eating as a large group, the "contubernium" looked after its own cooking and rations,
we can only surmise that one or two individuals within that group took responsibility for cooking, particularly when the LEGION was on the move.
Vale, Gaius Antinius Salis Aka( Joseph Saleh)
ROMANS IRELAND. VEX LEG VIII AVG "CERTA BONUM CERTAMEN"
ROMAN LIVING HISTORY GROUP.
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.romansireland.com">www.romansireland.com
[email protected]
Posts: 1,086
Threads: 72
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
Quote:Salve,
From the info I have looked at it would seem that rather than eating as a large group, the "contubernium" looked after its own cooking and rations,
we can only surmise that one or two individuals within that group took responsibility for cooking, particularly when the LEGION was on the move.
As long as the contubernium stayed together, that is a reasonable assumption, but especially in camp or home base it is entirely possible individual soldiers fended for themselves. The descriptions of emperors being 'one of the boys' speak of them grinding their own grain and baking their own bread.
Der Kessel ist voll Bärks!
Volker Bach
Posts: 13,279
Threads: 102
Joined: May 2006
Reputation:
3
At arbaia fort, the barracks have a small fireplace in each area, perhaps for cooking....one per conteburium? (forgive the spelling)
Visne partem mei capere? Comminus agamus! * Me semper rogo, Quid faceret Iulius Caesar? * Confidence is a good thing! Overconfidence is too much of a good thing.
[b]Legio XIIII GMV. (Q. Magivs)RMRS Remember Atuatuca! Vengence will be ours!
Titus Flavius Germanus
Batavian Coh I
Byron Angel
Posts: 1,086
Threads: 72
Joined: Nov 2004
Reputation:
0
Quote:At arbaia fort, the barracks have a small fireplace in each area, perhaps for cooking....one per conteburium? (forgive the spelling)
It's the usual reconstruction. In low-status housing it's often impossible to decide whether a fireplace was used for cooking or just for heating. Your typical 'Roman' hearth is only common in relatively wealthy homes, and in most barracks contexts we could well miss even the remnants of fairly complex coarseware pottery constructions for cooking we know from pictures. But I'm inclined to think the 'standard' contubernium room holds a fireplace for cooking.
Der Kessel ist voll Bärks!
Volker Bach
Posts: 101
Threads: 8
Joined: Aug 2006
Reputation:
0
Sorry, but cooks were not allowed into the army. They were considered as not fit for actual duty and not having the right character to be a soldier. All soldiers cooked in their food in the small contubernium unit. This way the chance of getting food poisoning was minimized.
Maarten
Maarten Dolmans
Marcus Claudius Asclepiades
COHORS XV VOL. C. R.
CLASSIS AUGUSTA GERMANICA
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.paxromana.nl">www.paxromana.nl