Taste and the Ancient Senses

Rezensionen / Stimmen

Taste is the most corporeal of senses, requiring not only direct physical contact, but the ingestion of substances that will become part of ourselves. Thanks to its association with "low" bodily functions, taste has commonly been held in low regard by idealizing philosophers and other theorists. This multidisciplinary volume, with contributions from historians, literary critics, and material culture specialists, seeks to redress this imbalance through an engaging exploration of the distinctive qualities, characteristics, and experiences of taste in ancient Greece and Rome. It offers much to ruminate on for readers interested in almost any aspect of the ancient world, food history, or the history of the senses.

- Matthew Roller, Professor of Classics, Johns Hopkins University, USA "Taste is the most corporeal of senses, requiring not only direct physical contact, but the ingestion of substances that will become part of ourselves. Thanks to its association with "low" bodily functions, taste has commonly been held in low regard by idealizing philosophers and other theorists. This multidisciplinary volume, with contributions from historians, literary critics, and material culture specialists, seeks to redress this imbalance through an engaging exploration of the distinctive qualities, characteristics, and experiences of taste in ancient Greece and Rome. It offers much to ruminate on for readers interested in almost any aspect of the ancient world, food history, or the history of the senses."

- Matthew Roller, Johns Hopkins University, USA

"This splendid volume is part of the Routledge series devoted to the senses in the ancient world and comes strongly recommended ... The essays are wide-ranging: their breadth prompts reflection on further forays into the sensory worlds of antiquity, which worked powerfully in medicine, religion and thought. Many revelations are made ... The volume is particularly strong in bringing together philosophy with literature, and archaeology with technical texts ... The volume excels in its range of approaches and materials for study. There is also an excellent bibliography and index."

- John Wilkins, University of Exeter, UK, The Classical Review 2020