BS: Free Meals in ancient Roman Forum?

Subject: BS: Free Meals in ancient Roman Forum?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 Apr 16 - 04:51 PM

Once when I toured the Forum in Rome, our guide told us that Roman citizens did not have to work, so they spent the day in the Forum, where meals and baths and gymnasiums were available for free. I've believed this over the years, but I have never found anything to document this.

From what I've been able to find, Romans bought their food and prepared it at home. Is there any truth to what my tour guide said?

I'm working as a Latin tutor and correcting a paper on everyday life in ancient Rome, so it would be helpful if I could prove or disprove what I was told by my tour guide.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: BS: Free Meals in ancient Roman Forum?
From: Will Fly
Date: 26 Apr 16 - 05:08 PM

I think it depends what you mean by citizens, Joe. There were slaves and masters, shopkeepers, tradesmen, nobles, prostitutes, soldiers, etc., etc. - and they had to make a living. If you only count people who had no need to work - the well-off - then that's a different matter. From watching Mary Beard's UK TV programmes on Rome (she's a university professor specialising in the topic), it seems that the well-off had cooks and would probably eat at home.

Rome, it appears, was absolutely stuffed with street food and eating places - fast food everywhere - where anyone could pay for a meal or a snack. A bit like a Bangkok street market!

It's possible that your tour guide was exaggerating slightly.

Subject: RE: BS: Free Meals in ancient Roman Forum?
From: Mr Red
Date: 27 Apr 16 - 04:10 AM

could there have been a "membership" deal? Bit like UK football "hospitality suits". A lot of money gets spent up front, by sponsorship or membership.

Subject: RE: BS: Free Meals in ancient Roman Forum?
From: Rapparee
Date: 27 Apr 16 - 09:11 AM

Joe, there was a wheat dole in Rome where citizens could obtain it for free (paid for by taxes, of course). Sometimes a wealthy person would put on games and charge no admission, but you WERE expected to clap and cheer that person; emperors seem to have been especially prone to this. Oft times food was also provided, paid for by the sponsor.

But as Juvenal said in his "Satire 10":

...iam pridem, ex quo suffragia nulli
uendimus, effudit curas; nam qui dabat olim
imperium, fasces, legiones, omnia, nunc se
continet atque duas tantum res anxius optat,
panem et circenses.

Subject: RE: BS: Free Meals in ancient Roman Forum?
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Apr 16 - 09:33 AM

already long ago, from the time when none of the votes of the
  buys cares; For those who once
  bestowed commands, consulships, legions and all else, now meddles no
  no more and longs eagerly for just two things,
  bread and circuses.

Subject: RE: BS: Free Meals in ancient Roman Forum?
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 27 Apr 16 - 01:17 PM

There is an expression about "free bread and circuses" which I have always taken to mean that it was provided to keep the plebs docile.
Wiki says,
"This phrase originates from Rome in Satire X of the Roman satirical poet Juvenal (circa A.D. 100). In context, the Latin panem et circenses (bread and circuses) identifies the only remaining cares of a Roman populace which no longer cares for its historical birthright of political involvement. Here Juvenal displays his contempt for the declining heroism of contemporary Romans.[5] Roman politicians passed laws in 140 B.C. to keep the votes of poorer citizens, by introducing a grain dole: giving out cheap food and entertainment, "bread and circuses", became the most effective way to rise to power."

Subject: RE: BS: Free Meals in ancient Roman Forum?
From: Donuel
Date: 28 Apr 16 - 01:43 AM

Even the slaves paid for their salt with their labor. All except for the slaves who were not worth their salt.

Subject: RE: BS: Free Meals in ancient Roman Forum?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 28 Apr 16 - 05:20 PM

Even the slaves paid for their salt with their labor.

The slaves payed for the entire Roman Empire with their labour.