The Greek Dinner Party

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From what we have seen from the odyssey, Greek dinner parties were formal affairs with ritual events. The best foods and entertainment were presented to the guests to show off their wealth. We have not seen one of these actions in Trimalchio’s dinner. His foods were as bad as his entertainment. For example, as the guest applauded to Trimalchio’s verse a bizarre dish was served. A group of viscous Spartan dogs were followed by a tray, carrying an enormous wild boar with a freedom cap on its head. On the boar tusks hanged little baskets made from palm leaves. Underneath the boar were little pigs made of cake hanging from it teats. On the baskets were dates from Syria and dried dates from Egypt. The dates and the little pigs were later explained to be gifts for the guests. The guests were surprisingly appalled and speechless of such an entrance of a dish and also by the size of the boar. Not surprising to say for throughout Trimalchio’s dinner everything were served with a twist. Trimalchio serves weird food not only out of his wealth, but his real intention was to show how ignorant his guests were.
A lot had happen during Trimalchio’s feast. From the entrance of the house to the dining area was nothing but extravaganza. From extreme decoration to surprising dishes and expensive slaves Trimalchio wanted to show off his wealth. At the dinner room, for example, hors d’oeuvres served with a donkey made of rare Corinthian bronze stuffed with olives (Petronius). The guests were stunned of such presentation, and surprised he would go to such extreme to serve hors d’oeuvres. In such presentation Trimalchio was demonstrating the immensity of his wealth for even his food was served to show his status. He wanted to show that his wealth had su...

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...e stupid or not. They would only welcome them to their house with grace and love while serving them with the best meat and food in the household. It is to prove that the Odyssey shows that the host uses their food to welcome guests while Trimalchio wanted to show off his wealth and test his guest’s ignorance.
In conclusion in the Odyssey the Greeks were very kind hosts. They save the best food and the best entertainment for their guests, and the bests gifts were offered to their guests. They wanted to please their guests and be the best host that they could be to open a good relationship with their guests. But as we seen in Trimalchio as a freedman Roman he was not a good host. As a host his intention was to show off his immersive wealth and to show his guest ignorance. From his décor to the dining room and the food he served, and his vulgarity he was showing off.

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