What type of event involved tālī being tossed to select a magister bibendī?

The event where tālī were tossed to select a magister bibendī, or the master of drinking, most accurately corresponds to a banquet. In ancient Roman culture, banquets were social gatherings that often featured feasting and drinking, and the role of the magister bibendī was crucial during such occasions. This individual was responsible for the drinking festivities, orchestrating various toasts and ensuring the enjoyment of the guests.

Tālī, or pieces of wood or other markers, were used in games of chance, and tossing them during a banquet would add an element of fun and randomness to the selection of this important role, fitting well within the lively and celebratory atmosphere of banquet settings.

While other events like weddings or funerals may also involve gatherings and possibly drinking, the specific cultural tradition of appointing a master of drinking through the tossing of tālī aligns most closely with the context of a banquet, distinguishing it from the more solemn or ceremonial nature of weddings and funerals, or the more intimate setting of a dinner.