Myth-busting · Roman Empire Daily
A vomitorium was not a room for vomiting. It was a passage that let crowds spill out of an amphitheater.
Deep dive
The word comes from Latin 'vomere,' to spew forth, but it described the entrance/exit tunnels that 'disgorged' spectators from venues like the Colosseum. The idea of a dedicated room for purging between courses is a modern misconception.
Source: Macrobius, 'Saturnalia,' 6.4; modern usage discussed in standard classical references.
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