The Secret (And Deadly) Drinks of Ancient Rome

Think modern party culture is wild? It has nothing on Ancient Rome. In this episode of Strange Humans, we are diving deep into a Roman night out. Roman dinner parties didn’t end when the food was gone — in fact, that’s when things became truly bizarre. From expensive luxury wines that could literally catch fire, to dangerous counterfeit industries and wine mixed with seawater, the Roman elite used their cups to display status, politics, and power. But the strangest part? An intense after-dinner game where a man chosen entirely by dice (The Magister Bibendi) got to decide exactly how drunk everyone in the room had to get. Watch to discover what ended up in everyone's cup — from the sweet honeyed Mulsum of the rich to the harsh vinegar rations of Roman soldiers. Which Roman drink would you actually dare to try? Let me know in the comments! ⏳ Timestamps: 0:00 - A Roman Night Out 0:40 - Wine as a Status Symbol 1:20 - Mulsum & The Wine That Caught Fire 2:50 - The Insane Rules of Roman Wine 4:20 - What Ordinary Romans (and Soldiers) Drank 5:10 - Comissatio: The Wild After-Party 7:20 - Which Roman Drink Would You Try?