词汇 | lucullus will sup with lucullus |
词源 | Lucullus will sup with Lucullus. Lucius Licinius Lucullus (ca. 119–57 b.c.), a celebrated Roman general and consul who drove Mithridates’ fleet from the Mediterranean, among other military successes, had been relieved of his office by Pompey in 67 b.c. But he had amassed a fortune and retired into the ele- gant leisure for which he has become famous, spending huge sums on public displays and on his estates. Horace tells us he lavishly entertained the artists, poets, and philosophers with whom he surrounded himself, and that his feasts were famous throughout Rome. The gourmand even had files of menus listed according to cost, serving the most expensive ones to his most important guests, and it is said that on one occasion an unpar- alleled dinner cost him the equivalent of more than $8,000. Another time, Plutarch says, he ordered his cook to prepare a particularly magnificent meal and was reminded that he was dining alone that night. “Lucullus will sup tonight with Lucul- lus,” he replied, or “Today Lucullus is host to Lucullus.” These sayings are now used to indicate a luxurious meal enjoyed by a gourmet who dines alone. The Roman general’s military prow- ess is almost forgotten, but the adjective from his name lives on as a synonym for “gastronomically splendid” and a sumptuous and extravagant meal is still called a Lucullan feast or banquet. |
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