A vomitorium was not a special room for vomiting in ancient Rome but rather a structural feature—an entrance and exit corridor in theatres and amphitheatres designed to manage large crowds efficiently. This important correction addresses a widespread myth that rich Romans used vomitoria to purge themselves during feasts to continue eating.
Roman architecture included vomitoria as rapid-access passages in venues like the Colosseum. The term originates from the Latin verb vomere, meaning “to spew forth,” accurately describing how crowds were funneled in or out in massive numbers. This term is primarily metaphorical, illustrating how audiences “spewed” into or “vomited” out of seating areas.
Ancient architectural texts do not use vomitorium as a formal term for these corridors. Instead, writers like Vitruvius used words such as itinera (passages) or exitus (exits). The only ancient source mentioning vomitorium in this context is Macrobius in his work Saturnalia, who makes a poetic analogy, comparing the rapid egress of spectators to a wave being vomited out. This metaphor, inspired by earlier poetic allusions such as those by Vergil and Apollonius of Rhodes, gives the term its figurative shape rather than a technical architectural one.
The misconception likely arose from linguistic misunderstandings. The adjective vomitorius meant “pertaining to vomiting,” leading later readers to mistake vomitorium as a term for a “vomiting room.” The Latin language featured many room terms ending with similar suffixes, like cubiculum (bedroom) and frigidarium (cold room in baths), which possibly encouraged this false association.
Additional cultural factors may have influenced the myth. For example, Cicero’s mention of Julius Caesar vomiting due to illness, and references to vomiting in Roman medical or everyday contexts, might have been taken out of context and linked mistakenly to architectural spaces.
The term vomitorium as a formal architectural word is actually post-Renaissance. Historical uses in the 16th century and later, such as in Philandrier’s notes on Vitruvius, show that the word gained some architectural meaning only far after ancient times. It started appearing seriously in English texts in the 1700s, but even then not precisely in the ancient Roman sense.
Today, architects and theatre designers use “vomitoria” to describe similar entrances and exits in modern stadiums and theatres. This usage is functional and valid in a contemporary context but should not imply that the Romans called such passages by this term officially.
| Aspect | Ancient Reality | Modern Misconception |
|---|---|---|
| Function of Vomitorium | High-capacity passageway for crowd movement in amphitheatres | A room for vomiting to enable continuous eating |
| Use in Ancient Texts | Rare metaphorical usage; common terms were itinera/exitus | Often cited as architectural term meaning vomiting chamber |
| Etymology | Root in Latin vomere, meaning “to spew forth,” metaphorical | Literal interpretation tied to vomiting bodily fluids |
The belief that vomitoria were vomiting rooms originates from a combination of mistaken etymologies, metaphorical language being taken literally, and cultural misinterpretations over centuries. Once the myth gained traction, it was repeated widely without consulting ancient sources or understanding Roman engineering.
This myth persists partly because it appeals to sensational ideas about Roman decadence. Yet, the reality reveals Romans as advanced engineers who valued efficient crowd management in public entertainment venues. The vomitoria enabled rapid dispersal of huge numbers of spectators, enhancing safety and comfort.
Key takeaways:
- Vomitoria were architectural passages for crowd movement, not vomiting rooms.
- The term derives metaphorically from Latin for “spewing forth,” relating to crowd flow.
- Ancient Roman writers used different terms for theatre passageways; only one source uses “vomitorium” metaphorically.
- The vomiting-room myth emerged post-Renaissance due to linguistic confusions and cultural reinterpretations.
- Modern use of vomitoria in theatres is functional but not a direct continuation of Roman terminology.
