The Utilization of Lobsters by Humans in the Mediterranean Basin from the Prehistoric Era to the Modern Era ? An Interdisciplinary Short Review

The Mediterranean and Red Seas host a variety of clawed, spiny and slipper lobsters. Lobsters' utilization in ancient times varied, ranging from complete prohibition by the Jewish religion, to that of epicurean status in the Roman world. One of the earliest known illustrations of a spiny lobster was a wall carving in Egypt depicting the Queen Hatshepsut expedition to the Red Sea in the 15th century BC. Lobsters were known by the ancient Greeks and Romans as was expressed in art forms and writings. Lobsters also appeared in ancient mosaics and coins. The writings of naturalists and philosophers from the Roman-Hellenistic period, together with illustrative records indicate that lobsters were a popular food and there was considerable knowledge of their classification, biology and fisheries. The popularity of lobsters as gourmet food increased with time followed by an expansion of the scientific knowledge as well as over exploitation of these resources.