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Originally Posted by Greyson
I am pretty sure there is something about the Romans I don't know. What is the connection, association between vomit and Romans? Thanks.
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Hi Greyson,
Vomitorium is an architectural term. A vomitorium is the entrance/exit way of a large entertainment venue such as a sports stadium. Well, really ANY entrance or egress to or from your seat in a theater as well. If you go to the movies and you are in the passageway to get to your seat...you're in a vomitorium.
Here is the definition taken from Word-A-Day:
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vomitorium (vom-i-TOR-ee-uhm) noun, plural vomitoria
A passageway to the rows of seats in a theater.
[From Latin vomitorium, from vomere (to discharge).]
Vomitoria in ancient amphitheaters helped the audience to reach their seats quickly and then, at the end of the performance, leave at an equal speed (hence the name). Thousands of seats could be filled in minutes.
The suggestion that a vomitorium was the place for the ancient Romans to vomit during a feast has no basis.
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However, other dictionaries list and some historians do believe there existed trough-filled rooms for Romans attending feasts to vomit in, either just to feel better or to actually make room for more feasting.
~Bleu
Tea anyone?