The Ancient Roman Vomitorium: It Wasn’t What You’ve Been Told
The Roman theater at Cádiz sez: “Ugh, I’ve eaten too much dormouse. BLAARGH!”
I’ve often heard an odd rumor about the ancient Romans. Supposedly they had a special room in their villas and public houses called a vomitorium so that after binging on food and wine they could purge themselves and start stuffing their gullets again. You’ve probably heard that rumor too.
I’ve never believed that story, but while exploring the Roman remains at Cádiz, Spain, I discovered that the vomitorium actually did exist, it just wasn’t what we’ve been told.