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Lavish Roman banquets immersed in roses R. damascena

As Hellenic civilization that gave birth to Greek philosophy came to an end, and Roman civilization of material abundance began to flourish, roses began to be seen as an item of foremost luxury. Before a banquet, the guests would first take a bath and then spread rose oil over the body. Since the people took seats in a reclining position, the whole ceiling was adorned with roses to please the eye, carpets of roses covered the floor, and rose petals floated in wine glasses. The most extravagant banquets sub rosa may have been that of the despotic Roman Emperor Nero, held nightly in his Golden Palace on Palatine Hill. In addition to the lavish rose water bath and attar of roses, rose petals and rose oil were sprinkled from the ceiling, and the guests were served rose-scented wine and dessert made from roses. A single night of extravagance is said to have cost an equivalent of $150,000! Roses were also used to highlight the beauty of Cleopatra. It is said that in her historical meeting with her future lover Anthony, the carpet of roses was over 30 centimeters thick.