Folder Name: 2319
Book Name: E05027_The_Pantropheon.pdf
Summary: In a vivid description of a Roman supper, the symposiarch leads the guests in toasting their own and their cherished friend's happiness with wine. The scene is infused with poetic recitations and sensual indulgence, evoking the luxurious banquets of ancient Rome. Appetites are sated with meats and then the dessert, consisting of exquisite drinks and a variety of fruits and delicacies, is served on ivory tables. The guests adorn themselves with Egyptian wreaths of roses and myrtle, accompanied by little birds, creating a picturesque but ominous scene. The narrative takes a dramatic turn as the looming destruction of Rome by fire, orchestrated by Nero, is foreshadowed, leaving the proud patricians trapped in a fiery inferno with no means of escape.