A team of archaeologists found a ‘thermopolium’, a place where food and drinks were served to bring the inhabitants of Pompeii, the ancient Roman city that in 79 AD was buried after the eruption of the volcano Vesuvius,
For AFP
December 27, 2020- 08:28
A team of archaeologists found a ‘thermopolium’, a place where food and drink were served to bring the inhabitants of ancient Rome. The place is practically intact, with rich pictorial decorations and even food scraps. Photo AFP / Luigi SpinaThe thermopolium (thermopolium), a kind of “fast-food” in the middle of the street in ancient Rome, unearthed in Pompeii (Campania, south, near Naples), is decorated with colorful themes and in an exceptional state of preservation. announced this Saturday the site officials. Photo AFP / Luigi SpinaThe counter preserved by volcanic ash had been partially unearthed in 2019, but work was extended to try to preserve the entire archaeological site as best as possible, and which is located in a busy neighborhood, at the intersection of the streets of Les Noces d ‘silver and that of Les Balconades. Photo AFP / Luigi SpinaScientists found in the voids of the table food scraps that could provide valuable information about the gastronomic customs in Pompeii at the time when Vesuvius erupted, in the year 79 AD. Photo AFP / Luigi SpinaA fragment of duck bone was recovered at the facility, as well as remains of pigs, goats, fish and snails in clay containers. Several ingredients were cooked together, as if it were a frying pan. Photo AFP / Luigi SpinaAt the bottom of a bowl were chopped beans, which were used to modify the taste of the wine. Photo AFP / Luigi Spina“The thermopolium has the effect of having been hastily closed and abandoned by its owners, although it is possible that someone, perhaps the oldest man, stayed and died during the first stage of the eruption, in l ‘collapse the attic,’ explained Massimo Osanna, director general of Pompeii Archaeological Park. Photo AFP / Luigi SpinaThere were two skeletons in place. The second could be that of a thief or some hungry fugitive, “surprised by the burning vapors holding in one hand the lid of the container he had just opened,” Ossana added. Photo AFP / Luigi SpinaThe “thermopolia” (the compound word comes from the Greek ‘thermopōlion’, which means hot food to sell) were very common in the Roman world. In Pompeii alone there were about 80. The city, completely covered by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79, is the second most visited place in Italy after the Roman Colosseum, with almost four million visits in 2019. AFP / Luigi Spina
