LITERATURE + LECTURES

The Archaeological Institute of American, Houston presents Feasting, The Taste of Power - A Royal Mesopotamian Feast, Tuesday, May 4 at 7pm at Cafe Byblos, 6134 Richmond. Featuring Dr. Lauren Ristvet, Dyson Chair, The University of Pennsylvania.

It's wonderful to be king! Forget long, drawn-out foreign wars or costly construction programs, one Mesopotamian king chose another strategy to strengthen royal power: feasting! He hosted a mind-boggling spread for 69,574 of his most special friends that included 1,000 oxen, 1,000 calves, 14,000 sheep, 1,000 lambs, and 10,000 fish. Then he commemorated royal largesse on a stele to remind everyone of a memorable day of gluttony.

While we won't duplicate such extravagance at our dinner, we will learn about the nature of food and feasting in ancient Mesopotamia and how feasting was an important part of ancient politics. Lauren Ristvet, a young rising star from the prestigious archaeology program at the University of Pennsylvania, will lead us on our culinary journey.

Cosponsored by The Arab-American Educational Foundation.