Part 3/11:
The dish selected for this gloomy occasion was a "patina" made from boiled or roasted fish, eggs, oil, and garum, the ancient Roman fish sauce. Overwhelmingly, this dish has jellyfish, delicately placed on top of the mixture to prevent it from sinking and combining with the eggs. The emphasis on presentation hints at an unsettling delight in the bizarre; the description of the cooking method itself induces a sense of dread, referencing the secretiveness of Domitian's intentions.