World’s largest banquet lasted for 10 days, was attended by 69000 guests, had 10000 jars of beer, 10000…, was hosted by…
Since the dawn of civilization, parties have been held all over, but some parties have emerged for their sheer scale. For example, the banquet for Ashurnasirpal II, the powerful king of the ancient Assyrian Empire, around 879 BCE. Ashurnasirpal II was known throughout history as a king who threw one of the biggest, most lavish, and extravagant parties of all time, highlighting his wealth, power, and influence.
Who hosted this extravagant 10-day feast?
The banquet lasted for a duration of 10 days and had approximately 69,574 guests. Historians also call it “the world’s first recorded mega-fest,” as it is recorded by a stone tablet (stele) and is the oldest known menu in history. The banquet was much more than food and entertainment; it was also an exhibition of the strength and wealth of the empire.
What made this banquet the largest in history?
The banquet was held to mark the reconstruction of Kalhu (present-day Nimrud) as the seat of the capital city and the opening of a fabulous palace. The king intended Kalhu as a newly designed “Palace of Delight,” with doors of bronze, ceilings of cedarwood, and lovely gardens. The feast was meant to be a demonstration of the king’s military achievements and economic wealth.
The festive gathering went for 10 days, which was a very long time in the ancient world. The celebration primarily aimed to dedicate the new palace and celebrate the restoration of the city. The king invited people from across the empire, including men from the rebellion regions, to affirm their loyalties and illustrate the solidarity of his rule.
The guests were presented gifts, anointed in oil, and ultimately sent in peace and happiness. The event was exceptionally planned, including rituals, processions, and communal feasts, which demonstrated the king’s strength of organization.
A total of 69,574 attendees came to the banquet, which was an unprecedented number for the population of the time. The guests included high-ranking officials from the capital, representatives of provinces across the empire, ambassadors from other neighboring states, and ordinary people.
Media reports suggest the attendance was so overwhelming that it represented the entire nation. Guests traveled from near and far, parading day and night, bringing gifts for the king. This remarkable diversity demonstrates the vast scope and boundaries of the empire.
How many guests attended the feast?
The menu was the most interesting aspect of the banquet, as described in detail on the Banquet Stele. As an offering to the gods, the king offered thousands of animals as sacrifices. Media report suggest that the menu comprised 1,000 bulls, 1,000 calves, 10,000 sheep, 15,000 lambs, 500 deer, 500 gazelles, 1,000 ducks, 500 swans, 5,000 curlews, 1,000 mesuku birds, 1,000 caribu birds, 10,000 pigeons, 10,000 sukanunu pigeons, 10,000 additional small birds, 10,000 fish, 10,000 eggs, and 14,000 sheep on top of all the prior sacrifices.
What kinds of food and drinks were served?
The menu also included fruits, vegetables, herbs, and preserved foods with a beverage selection of more than 10,000 measures of beer and 10,000 containers of wine. Thousands of breads and all sorts of dishes were also served at the feast, making the event an extraordinary spectacle of the culinary arts.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
- The banquet lasted for a duration of 10 days and had approximately 69,574 guests.
- Historians also call it “the world’s first recorded mega-fest,” as it is recorded by a stone tablet (stele).
- The menu also included fruits, vegetables, herbs, and preserved foods with a beverage selection of more than 10,000 measures of beer and 10,000 containers of wine.
- Media report suggest that the menu comprised 1,000 bulls, 1,000 calves, 10,000 sheep, 15,000 lambs, 500 deer, 500 gazelles.
The banquet was not merely a celebratory feast but a political and religious maneuver. The Banquet Stele—uncovered in Iraq in 1951 and weighing four tons—recorded the event, and is one of the earliest examples of a restaurant-style menu. The stele remains in the British Museum today, even though the palace was destroyed when Kalhu fell in 612 BCE.
News