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This bronze kalyx krater, from the second century B.C., was found in the House of Julius Polybius in Pompeii. The krater is decorated with a relief frieze depicting a procession of male figures, accompanied by animals, and would have been used to mix wine and water to prepare it for drinking. The upper classes of the Roman Empire never drank undiluted wine, which was considered a practice of the lower classes and of barbarians, into which class non-Romans fell.
The ancient Romans had well defined dining customs, which ideally used specific pieces of serving silver. The entire service of silver was known as the ministerium. Utensils like the krater above were used to serve beverages and were known as the argentum potorium, while food service utensils were known as the argentum escarium. |
