Archaeologists uncover ancient street food shop in Pompeii

By Philip Pullella

 

Frescoes on an ancient counter discovered during excavations at Pompeii, Italy, are seen in this handout picture released December 26, 2020. Pompeii Archaeological Park/Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities and Tourism/Luigi Spina/Handout via REUTERS

 

ROME (Reuters) - Archaeologists in Pompeii, the city buried in a volcanic eruption in 79 AD, have made the extraordinary find of a frescoed hot food and drinks shop that served up the ancient equivalent of street food to Roman passersby.

 

Known as a termopolium, Latin for hot drinks counter, the shop was discovered in the archaeological park's Regio V site, which is not yet open the public, and unveiled on Saturday.

 

Traces of nearly 2,000-year-old food were found in some of the deep terra cotta jars containing hot food which the shop keeper lowered into a counter with circular holes.

 

The front of the counter was decorated with brightly coloured frescoes, some depicting animals that were part of the ingredients in the food sold, such as a chicken and two ducks hanging upside down.

 

"This is an extraordinary find. It's the first time we are excavating an entire termopolium," said Massimo Ossana, director of the Pompeii archaeological park.

 

Archaeologists also found a decorated bronze drinking bowl known as a patera, ceramic jars used for cooking stews and soups, wine flasks and amphora.

 

Pompeii, 23 km (14 miles) southeast of Naples, was home to about 13,000 people when it was buried under ash, pumice pebbles and dust as it endured the force of an eruption equivalent to many atomic bombs.

 

"Our preliminary analyses shows that the figures drawn on the front of the counter, represent, at least in part, the food and drink that were sold there," said Valeria Amoretti, a site anthropologist.

 

Amoretti said traces of pork, fish, snails and beef had been found in the containers, a discovery she called a "testimony to the great variety of animal products used to prepare dishes".

 

About two-thirds of the 66-hectare (165-acre) ancient town has been uncovered. The ruins were not discovered until the 16th

century and organised excavations began about 1750.

 

A rare documentation of Greco-Roman life, Pompeii is one of Italy's most popular attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage

Site.

 

(Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-27

 

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Any evidence of Somtam ingredients...????

Known as The Somtam Queen from Nakorn Nowhere

Noodle shop, Pompei version ????

"Hey is that Horse on a stick ready yet ?"

 

"Keep your shirt on mate, Rome wasn't built in a day you know !"

Blocking the sidewalk, as usual.....is that opening in the back a beginning of a 7-11????  (tap tap tap-whew)

Astonishing to learn how advanced were these people were 2000 years ago compare to say, the region and the country we live in, even the interior walls of my apartment are painted in a very similar wall paint as in the picture... just an observation...

Edited December 27, 20205 yr by ezzra

1 minute ago, petermik said:

Any evidence of Somtam ingredients...????

If there is any, it will be located in a stall about 50 meters from the original termopolium...

5 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Astonishing to learn how advanced were these people were 2000 years ago compare to say, the region and the country we live in, even the interior walls of my apartment are painted in a very similar wall paint as in the picture... just an observation...

I liked the whore house there.  With paintings on the walls to describe what you could get inside each room. 

2 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

I liked the whore house there.  With paintings on the walls to describe what you could get inside each room. 

That wasn't part of the archeological dig...that was a leftover poster from the "Amazing Thailand" tourism campaign last summer

Yeah

9 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

I liked the whore house there.  With paintings on the walls to describe what you could get inside each room. 

Yeah in those days you probably had to paint them a picture so they can understand what is on offering... replaced in modern days with red lights, blurring of a music and some lassos standing outside with shorts beer signs saying 'Helloooo daalling'.... 

Edited December 27, 20205 yr by ezzra

40 minutes ago, petermik said:

Any evidence of Somtam ingredients...????

The Romans had a very "ripe" fish sauce which was called "garam" so you can bet your life that they did somtam and possibly sausage or chiko rolls....

1 hour ago, rooster59 said:

Archaeologists uncover ancient street food shop in Pompeii

Big deal!  We have a couple of shops in my village who sell what looks like ancient street food!

I thought the population estimate stated, 13,000, was too low, but according to google it's about right. I've been there two times in the past 4 years, and the place seems much larger than a town of 13K.

Herculaneum nearby, which suffered the same fate, is interesting because about 2/3 of it, as I recall, is still buried under the new town and its houses, so it is going to be a long time before the treasures there are uncovered.

Send Phil Harding there from Time Team , right up his street ...so to speak.

2 hours ago, ChakaKhan said:

Blocking the sidewalk, as usual.....is that opening in the back a beginning of a 7-11????  (tap tap tap-whew)

If they find any dog remains in front of the entrance, then you may be right ????

They also found what appears to be an ancient Roman Tuk Tuk:

 

20 hours ago, klauskunkel said:

They also found what appears to be an ancient Roman Tuk Tuk:

 

 

Aha.. Ben Hur!!

48 minutes ago, kotsak said:

 

Aha.. Ben Hur!!

Quo vadis? (where you go?)

8 minutes ago, klauskunkel said:

57 minutes ago, kotsak said:

 

Aha.. Ben Hur!!

Quo vadis? (where you go?)

 

Ad Romam ad virum ????