The extraordinary find of a “fast food” stand in Pompeii | The opinion
A “fast food” stall in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption nearly 2,000 years ago, was revealed this Saturday.
This type of store was known as thermopolies and served food and drink warm to the inhabitants of the city.
The thermopoly is adorned with bright frescoes and endowed with terracotta jars.
There they also met leftovers, kitchen utensils, animal bones and victims of the eruption.
The establishment was partially discovered in 2019, but has only now been shown to the public and is expected to be open for tours next year.
Other thermopolies had already been found in years past, but this is the first time that one has been unveiled complete, Massimo Ossana, director of the Pompeii archaeological park, explained to the Reuters agency.
Ossana called the finding of “extraordinary”.
Very popular places
The decorations on the counter include the image of a Nereid riding a Seahorse.
An illustration was found to one side that investigators say could be the store’s brand.
In other sections of the thermopoly, drawings of animals that were probably slaughtered and sold there.
These places were very popular in the Roman world, where people went to eat away from home.
Only in Pompeii there are eighty.
Fragments of bones from the same animals were also discovered inside containers built into the counter, which contained food intended for sale.
Traces of pork, fish, snails and veal in jars and other containers.
Thermopolies were places where hot food and drinks were served that were stored in large built-in jugs on the masonry counter.
In a 2019 article on ABC News, Jennifer Viegas, a Rome expert at the University of Buffalo, described thermopolies as a mix between “Burger King, a British pub and a Spanish tapas bar.”
Osanna indicated that the analysis of the food remains represents “Exceptional information” to learn more about what the diet was like at the time.
Much to discover
Pompeii was buried by a volcanic eruption from Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
The eruption covered that locality with a thick layer of ash, preserving the city and the contours of many of its residents and making it a rich source for archaeologists.
About a third of the ancient city has yet to be discovered and the findings continue to emerge.
In November archaeologists found the remains of two men, believed to be a high-status citizen and his slave, who died during the eruption.
Pompeii, which is located about 23 km southeast of Naples in Italy, is currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, but the park hopes to reopen at Easter.
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