1 Corinthians 8 - what were the dining arrangements of pagan temples?

[Eoghan]

Paul Barnett's commentary describes the Temple of Demeter-Kore(?) which contains forty dining rooms each about 5m x 5m in what can only be described as something approximating a restaurant. I would really like to know what the function of dining was in the Temple worship. If there was a famine throughout the Roman Empire early 50's AD then the Corinthians Christians would be turning down a free meal? It does rather seem to be like the golf club in the sense that friends and family are invited to the golf club/pagan temple for a meal. The dining at pagan temples seems to have been an everyday occurrence given the scale of the accommodation and probably a way of socialising with the same function as the golf club.

Anyone got more information on this? In looking at the ESV study Bible graphics I notice a distinction between the Temple (i.e. Apollo) and the Temple precincts across the road as it were. Is this Temple proper and Temple dining (the golf club dinner)?

Despite several books on the Greek-Roman culture and customs this seems to be an area that is not touched on. Then again in discussing golf do we focus on the clubhouse or the courses?

 

[Eoghan]

Altars were almost always outside in front of the temple rather than inside where the cult statue of the god was located. ?

This would mean that sacrificed animals were butchered outside the Temple proper.