ROMOLA: Here we are. This is my villa. It's truly wonderful. I think everyone should live in luxury like this. Don't you?
RON: Oh, yes. I'm sure they'd like to.
ROMOLA: Oh, isn't this courtyard splendid. And so fashionable, just like they have in Rome. Oh, come on. I can't wait to show you my frescoes. This is my favourite room. It's wonderful, isn't it.
RON: Yes, I like the paintings on the wall.
ROMOLA: They're not just paintings Ron. They're frescoes, the latest thing! The paint is made from plants, natural stones and animal dyes, which are mixed together with egg whites to thicken them.
RON: Sounds delicious.
ROMOLA: You have to paint them carefully onto wet plaster so that they last longer. This is the life, isn't it. I love relaxing in this dining room, thinking about all the banquets we have held here. My husband loves entertaining you know. We have guests most nights of the week, and the food we serve comes straight from the farm. I'm famous for my dinner parties, perhaps you've heard of them?
RON: Oh, yes. I heard about Senator sicky spending all night in the vomitorium.
ROMOLA: That wasn't at one of my dinner parties. My guests would never overdo it.
RON: They do drink a lot of wine though. I mean, I know because I supply it. It comes from all parts of the Roman Empire for you.
ROMOLA: Yes, well. We have to buy some things like wine, olive oil, fish sauce. But most of the food, my slaves prepare and serve is really very fresh indeed. Tonight, we're having my favourite. Dormice, cooked in honey, served with poppy seeds.
RON: Oh lovely.
Video summary
A short, humorous dramatised video that sees a wealthy Roman, Romola, take a merchant on a tour of her villa.
She takes him to see her newly painted frescos and describes how they were painted, before relaxing in the dining room and reminiscing about some of her famous banquets.
She explains that most of the food for the banquets comes from the farm.
However, Romola's favourite dish may not be to everybody's tastes.
This clip comes from the ±«Óătv series, Primary History, Romans in Britain, Roman Relaxation.
Teacher Notes
Pupils could investigate dining in a Roman villa and compare it to their own dining experiences.
They could research Roman recipes and then plan, prepare and cook food for a Roman banquet to share with classmates or visitors.
Alternatively, they could make papier-mâché models of food that could be used again and again as role-play equipment.
This short film is relevant for teaching History at KS2 in England and Wales, KS2 in Northern Ireland and second level in Scotland.
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