Our knowledge of what and how the Romans ate comes from texts, wall-paintings and mosaics, and even the remains of the food itself from sites such as Pompeii.

A Roman mosaic from the 3rd-5th centuries CE depicts a symposium in great detail, while still-life frescoes from the House of the Deer in Herculaneum depict the food that could be served to guests.

image 1: Phoenix Ancient Art
image 2: Naples National Archaeological Museum