According to the Gospel, Jesus sat down to a final meal with his 12 disciples before being turned over to Roman soldiers and crucified. That last supper was immortalized by Leonardo Da Vinci in one of the world's most famous paintings. In Da Vinci's depiction, Jesus sits with arms outstretched at the center of a long table, covered with a cloth, and littered with a modest selection of food including bread and fish. Though an important work, the masterpiece is inaccurate, according to a new study.
Two Italian archaeologists studied Bible verses, Jewish writings, ancient Roman works, and archaeological data to unearth the details of Jesus' final meal. What they found was that the dinner wouldn't have been so formal. Instead the 13 guests would have eaten their food reclined on floor cushions among a few low tables, as Romans tended to do at the time.
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