British Museum open Silver service fine dining in Roman Britain

British Museum in London presents Silver service fine dining in Roman Britain an exhibition on view 23 May – 4 August 2013.

Discover the iconic Mildenhall Great Dish and its central role at the very heart of the Roman meal. Made in AD 350, this glorious piece is exquisitely decorated with classical imagery that features a drinking contest between Bacchus (the god of wine) and the hero Hercules. Take your place around this glorious silver platter and get a real flavour of Roman dining at the British Museum.

Encounter a slice of late Roman life as video projections and the fragrance of cinnamon take you back in time. Immerse yourself in an era where music, poetry, acrobats and dancing girls entertained the richest Romans; an age where each Roman’s status was reflected in their position at dinner, from the standing slaves to the reclining elite. Seek repose on the stibadium by the Great Dish and prepare to be enchanted.

The curious drama of the discovery 70 years ago of the Mildenhall treasure in a Suffolk field inspired Roald Dahl to write his celebrated story and adds to its rich mythology. Be inspired by this legendary object in an extraordinary dining room setting. www.britishmuseum.org