Tag: Roman history

Archaeological findings from Roman settlements like Pompeii offer incredible insight into the daily lives of ancient people, providing clear answers to the question: what food does Roman eat?. The diet was a complex mosaic of social class, regional variation, and seasonal availability, revealing a cuisine far more diverse than often imagined.

According to scientific analysis of gladiator bones from a Roman cemetery in Ephesus, these famed fighters ate a diet consisting mainly of grains and legumes, a stark contrast to the meat-heavy, lean physique often depicted in popular culture. This reveals a fascinating insight into Roman-era sports nutrition and lifestyle.

Ancient Roman gladiators were famously nicknamed *hordearii*, or 'barley eaters,' a name that hints at a diet challenging modern perceptions of athletic performance. This moniker provides a crucial clue to answering how much protein did gladiators eat, which was far less than one might assume.