Due to my interest in all things Roman ..
I will share this ....
"The Last Legionary: Life as a Roman Soldier in Britain, AD 400," (Elliot)
explains;
For troops on the march olive oil was preferred
but being an expensive luxury (shipped from Med.
and difficult to transport), pig fat (lard) became the
staple fat source for troops.
Elliot cites;
Avidius Cassius, (who rebelled against Marcus Aurelius)
ordered that his troops carry nothing except
'laridium ac buccellatum at due acetum',
[i.e.] bacon fat, hardtack and sour wine".
Thanks to the Price Edict of Diocletian
we know the market prices of that time for
different grades of olive oil and Brassica oil
and also various common animal fats.
