On 541 AD a plague broke out in the Byzantine empire. According to the Byzantine historian Procopius, the best primary source of the period, the epidemic appears to have begun around the port of Pelusion, near Suez in Egypt. ”Then it divided…
Christmas dinner at the Great Palace
Among the numerous foreigners who recorded their impressions of the Byzantine court Liutprand of Cremona, ambassador of Berengar of Italy in 949–50, provides descriptions of court ceremonies and a glowing account of the Christmas dinner he enjoyed at the Great Palace. Christmas…
Pagophagia, geophagia or eating unusual foods
Pagophagia* is a disorder that encompasses daily craving and eating of ice, snow or iced water. The Byzantine Emperor Theophilus (829-842 AD) died from dysentery, the possible cause of which may be connected to Theophilus’ pagophagia, in order to relieve the symptoms…
Foods associated with the feast of Annunciation in Byzantine monasteries
Monastery of Vatopedi. The dining room. (Photo credit: http://www.orthodoxos.com.gr/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?t=1884#p7510) ” The feast of the Annunciation on March 25 was bound to occur sometime during the Lenten fast, sometimes even during Holy Week, leading many of our authors to make special dietary…
Byzantine dreams and white bread.
….Getting or eating or merely seeing a loaf of white bread signifies harshness and strife for any dreamer.….If someone dreams of eating white bread he will get profit sufficient for life’s sustenance. But if the bread is hot, he will…