Dinner time! An enquiry into aspects of the eating practices of Byzantium

The inclusion of the French Gastronomic Meal on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2010, has emphasized the active social role of this tradition, passed down by each generation to the next as a cornerstone of French identity. It raises the subject of meals in other geographical and historical contexts such as the Byzantine world. Through various sources (Saints lives, correspondences, liturgical texts⋯), this article attempts to shed light on the dining habits of the Byzantine in various social settings, from ordinary meals to festive banquets. While not directly comparable, commonalities do exist between imperial banquets at the Great Palace and the frugal meals of monks. These unveil several aspects of the eating practices in Byzantium, including the menu and its dishes, dining rituals and, most importantly, the social and symbolic values associated with meals.