Pictorial evidence of Roman fishing comes from mosaics. At a certain time the goatfish was considered the epitome of luxury, above all because its scales exhibit a bright red color when it dies out of water. For this reason these fish were occasionally allowed to die slowly at the table. There even was a recipe where this would take place "in garo", in the sauce. At the beginning of the Imperial era, however, this custom suddenly came to an end, which is why "mullus" in the feast of Trimalchio (see "the Satyricon") could be shown as a characteristic of the "parvenu", who bores his guests with an unfashionable display of dying fish.