Which meal is referred to as 'prandium' in ancient Roman dining customs?

In ancient Roman dining customs, 'prandium' refers specifically to lunch. The Romans had a distinct structure to their meals throughout the day, which typically consisted of three main meals: the 'ientaculum' (breakfast), 'prandium' (lunch), and 'cena' (dinner).

Prandium was a lighter meal eaten around midday and often included leftovers from the previous day's cena or simple foods such as bread, cheese, fruits, and sometimes cold meats. Understanding the significance of these meal names not only highlights the Romans' structured approach to dining but also showcases their culinary habits and social customs associated with various times of the day.

The other meal options reflect different times of the day: breakfast is 'ientaculum,' the main meal of the day is 'cena,' and dinner (which is also 'cena') comes later in the evening. Thus, recognizing 'prandium' as lunch helps demarcate the daily meal habits within the context of Roman society.