Three meals a day was normal in ancient Rome, as today. In the morning, a breakfast called the "ientaculum" was served at dawn. Later, around 11:00 am, Romans ate a small lunch, and in the evening, they ate the "cena", the main meal of the day. In the Empire period, the "cena" increased in size and diversity. It was now eaten in the afternoon. The "vesperna", a light supper in the evening, was abandoned, and a second breakfast was introduced around noon, the "prandium".