Gastronomy/Food in antiquity/Dates and figs

Dates and figs fresco from the House of the Deer, Herculaneum Herculaneum] (before 79 AD, probably 2nd Pompeian style Pompeian Styles] )



Roman custom of giving dates, figs, honey, and small coins to celebrate the New Year on the 1st of January. Here are dates with small coins and figs on a platter.

Ovid, Fasti 1, 185-190 (published 8 AD)


 * 'quid volt palma sibi rugosaque carica' dixi
 * 'et data sub niveo candida mella cado?'
 * 'omen' ait 'causa est, ut res sapor ille sequatur
 * et peragat coeptum dulcis ut annus iter.'
 * 'dulcia cur dentur video: stipis adice causam,
 * pars mihi de festo ne labet ulla tuo.'

Martial 13, 27 (Xenia, published 84 AD around Saturnalia)

XXVII Petalium caryotarum

 * Aurea porrigitur Iani caryota Kalendis;
 * Sed tamen hoc munus pauperis esse solet.


 * The golden date is offered during the calends calends|Calends|calends] of Janus Janus|Janus|Janus]
 * However this is usually a gift of the poor