Roman Orgy v Greek Symposium If you're given the choice between going to an orgy or a symposium, be careful you don't make the wrong choice. The sedate-sounding ‘symposium of the Ancient Greeks frequently descended into debauchery, and even riot. Greek writers devoted much time to warning about the dangers of symposia, and offering advice to hosts on how to prevent things getting out of hand. Roman orgies, on the other hand, were comparatively sedate affairs. In imperial Rome, all rich people were expected to hold frequent, extravagant parties - the more extravagant, the greater your status. Hundreds of strangers, of all classes, would be invited at random; but as ever, attractive, fashionably-dressed people would be the most welcome guests. Food and drink would be generously supplied, as would entertainment from dancers, musicians, and prostitutes of both sexes. But Roman orgies were certainly not comparable with modern wife- swapping parties. There was sex - but not of the sort you'd find if you typed ‘orgy scene’ into a search engine. There was no ‘orgy sex’ at orgies. In all the surviving literature, art, and graffiti concerning orgies, there are only one or two references to what we think of as orgy sex - and even there, it's clear that such activities are not recommended or even approved of. The participants are depicted as old and ugly.