Lucullus

==ФЕ: a banquet of Lucullus (а Lucullan, Lucullean //, //Lucullian ban­quet) ==

Определение:
//Лукуллов пир//, обильное угоще­ние.

Origin:
//Lucius Licinius Lucullus// (c. 117 BC–57/56 BC), was an // optimate // politician of the late Roman Republic. //Lucullus// was one of the great men of Roman history, included in the biographical collections of leading generals and politicians, originating in the biographical compendium of famous Romans published by his contemporary Marcus Terentius Varro. Once, Cicero and Pompey succeeded in inviting themselves to dinner with Lucullus, but, curious to see what sort of meal Lucullus ate when alone, forbade him to send word ahead to his slaves to prepare a meal for guests. However, //Lucullus// outsmarted them. He ordered that his slaves serve him in the Apollo Room, and as his slaves had been schooled ahead of time as to precisely what to make for each of the different dining rooms, Cicero and Pompey ate the most luxurious of all meals. Another tale runs that one of his slaves, upon hearing that he would have no guests for dinner, served only one course. //Lucullus// reprimanded the slave saying, "What, did not you know, then, that today //Lucullus// dines with //Lucullus//?" He was also responsible for bringing the sweet cherry and the apricot to Rome.

Происхождение:
//Луций Лициний Лукулл// (лат. //Lucius Licinius Lucullus//, по прозванию Понтийский, //Ponticus//), римский полководец, политик и консул 74 до н. э. Однако в историю //Лукулл// вошел совсем не благодаря своим талантам и заслугам. Никто не помнит уже, что он был удачливым полководцем и владел огромной общедоступной библиотекой. В памяти народов остались расточительство и обжорство //Лукулла//, роскошные «//**лукулловы пиры**//» которого вошли в поговорку. Писатель Варрон свидетельствует: повара богачей жарили павлинов с острова Самос, рябчиков из Азии, журавлей из Греции. Закусывали устрицами из Южной Италии, на сладкое подавали египет­ские финики. Самые неистовые гастрономы изобрели даже кушанья из… соловьиных язычков.

Дериваты:
//Lucullan -// (especially of food) extremely luxurious, lavish and gourmet.

Примеры:
The tomato soup, the mysterious little pieces of white fish, the boiled mutton, the blackberry and apple tart, were trans­formed by their histrionic gusto into //**a banquet of Lucullus**//... (Priestley J. B., ' The Good Companions', book II, ch. I). Суп из помидоров, какие-то таинствен­ные кусочки белой рыбы, вареная бара­нина, куманика, яблочный пирог, — все это их актерский энтузиазм превратил в //**на­стоящее пиршество**//.

//a **Lucullan**// repast for one (ODO).

Дополнительно:
One cultivar of the vegetable known as Swiss chard (//Beta vulgaris//) is named "Lucullus" in his honor.