im learning just now in rome this role was called: praegustator
and i do not know how to pronounce that
and Halotus was the name of the food taster for Roman Emperor Claudius
ok that's a wrap for me on fun history facts!
Discussion
~a tale of toxic couples and a power play that ends in murder to prove a point that is neither interesting nor funny~
According to Pliny, during the time leading up to the fateful Battle of Actium in 31 BC, Mark Antony kept a food taster on hand at all times, as he distrusted Cleopatra and was worried that she would poison him when she no longer had any use for him.
Pliny goes on to state that Cleopatra found this amusing, and decided to entertain herself at his expense. Therefore, at a banquet, she wore a circlet of flowers, of which their extremities were dipped in poison, on her head. As the feasting went on, the atmosphere became increasingly merry, and Cleopatra challenged her lover to swallow the flowers by mixing them with wine.
Mark Antony could not refuse the challenge, and nearly drank the poisoned wine when the queen stopped him. She then summoned his food taster, who, needless to say, dropped dead after drinking the wine.
Thus, Cleopatra demonstrated to Mark Antony that the best precaution he had against being poisoned was to trust her.
Cleopatra's Banquet by Gerard de Lairesse (Flemish, 1641-1711)
