Aeranid Empire: Difference between revisions

Dining in Telhramir usually took place in the home.  As stated in my previous post, the *cōmus*, or house, was the central pillar of Aeranid society.  However, the form a *comus* took was dependant on class.  Only the upper classes and well established houses could afford a private free standing *cōmus* called a ***tantiun*** (from *tantus* ‘single’).  The rest of society rented space in public apartments called ***truscēs***.  These where several stories high and could contain three to over a dozen *comerunt*.  For logistical reasons, kitchens where either on the ground floor or the basement.  More expensive ground floor *truscēs* may have their own kitchens, but generally the ground floor was dedicated to public space, kitchens, or shops.  *Truscer* above shops were especially inexpensive, as that meant tenants would have to go elsewhere to eat.  For those who did rent apartments with kitchens, food was generally included with rent.  

Typically Aerans enjoyed four meals a day; ***māhiculun***, ***oriha***, ***tīn***, and ***sāsūra***.  In *truscēs* the ‘menu’ was set by the chefs, while in *tantiun* these where deciden upon by the Housemates or staff.  

The first meal of the day was ***māhiculun*** (from *māha* ‘morning’), which was had at dawn no matter one’s class, before the day’s work began.  This was often a simple meal meant to tide one over for the first few hours of the day, and especially among the lower classes was heavily spiced, to wake one up at the beginning of the day.   

After a few hours of work, around noon, citizens of the Capital would enjoy their main meal of the day; ***oriha***, so called because it generally contained at least one hearty grain, usually rice (*oriha*).  For the majority of people who laboured outside of their home, *oriha* was either prepared and eaten at the workplace, or in a nearby *truscēs* kitchen.  It was considered the employers duty to provide *oriha* for their workers, so if they didn’t have an on site kitchen they would contract with these nearby *truscer* kitchens.  An employer might contract an entire *truscēs* kitchen, or reserve a few spots in many and allocate them to employees.   

For the upper classes, who either worked from home or had the luxury to go home for meals, *oriha* was the most important meal socially of the day.  ***Corrihia***, a sort of noontime dinner party, was an important part of upper class social life, where one gathered with friends and allies to strengthen bonds and discuss business and politics.  The kitchen in a *tantiun*, because the it was not public, was generally in the basement, so that the ground floor would be clear for a large and lavish dining room.   

The more intimate meal, and the one of greater importance to the working class, was ***tīn*** (lit. ‘tea’).  Although tea was served at all meals, as it was the staple drink of the Aerans, ***tīn*** as a meal referred to a sort of afternoon tea had between friends and Housemates after work, usually around 4 to 6 in the afternoon, in ones home kitchen, like *māhiculun*.  Because at that point one was assumed to be tired from work, one would only have *tīn* with their closest acquaintances, whose company they enjoyed.  Generally, these would be members of the same *comus* or *achara* (‘school’), but not always.  

***Coltitiō*** (‘drinking together’) was considered therefore the highest form of social bond, and the type of relationship most strived for.  Though it began as a working class activity, the upper classes also appropriated it during the early stages of the empire, especially due to the high degree of working class influence after the overthrow of the Telrhamiran monarchy, in which they played an outsized role.  Many of the upper class even had *tīn* in public restaurants or in high class communal food halls, to mimic the public yet intimate setting of *tīn truscūmun*.  To be invited to *tīn* was a high honour and a mark of camaraderie (***carīnia***), another pillar of Aeran social practice.  

Finally, a small snack, called ***sāsūra*** (from *sahitz* ‘it sates me’) was had shortly for retiring to one’s bed.  Large *sāsūrar* where discouraged, as it was thought to interfere with restful sleep.  These were generally simple but comfortable meals meant to relax one before bed.  *Sāsūra* would also signal that a public kitchen was closing soon, and that patrons should go home.