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Moretum in the Mortar

Moretum is a type of herb cheese spread that the Ancient Romans would eat with bread.

A typical moretum was made of herbs, fresh cheese, salt, oil and some vinegar. Optionally, different kinds of nuts could be added. The contents were crushed together in a mortar, hence the name.

A recipe can be found in the poem of the same name in the Appendix Vergiliana.

• in Latin
• in English translation

De Re Rustica, book XII of Columella contains further recipes of moretum. The variant with pine nuts is very similar to modern pesto.

• Columella at The Latin Library
• Books I‑IV in English translation at LacusCurtius

The English translations of the told above sources can also be found in the book

• Roman Cookery: Ancient Recipes for Modern Kitchens by Mark Grant, ISBN 1 897959 39 7,

by Serif, 47 Strahan Rd, London E3 5DA

The spoke in the Great Seal of the United States comes from the end of a line in the latin recipe.

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Moretum

• Roman cuisine
• Pesto

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