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Excavations in Ancient Pompeii, which was destroyed in 79 CE by the eruption of nearby Mt. Vesuvius, have revealed a traditional Roman home with a central atrium, kitchen shrine, oven, and beautiful frescoes. Astonishingly, one of the frescoes includes a depiction of something that looks an awful lot like pizza, a cuisine that originated in Naples nearly 2,000 years later.
The home’s entrance opened onto its central atrium on the eastern side. To the atrium’s north were found a laundry area and a bed that was destroyed in the eruption. On the west was a large oven, as well as the ash-covered remains of three individuals in a nearby workroom.
On the atrium’s southern side, a cluster of rooms served as a kitchen and were decorated with ornate frescoes of animals and geometric designs. One of the rooms functioned as a small shrine where fish, fruits, and other foods were likely offered to the household gods.
Just outside of the kitchen, a beautiful fresco depicts a variety of foods presented on a large silver tray, including a goblet of wine and various fruits and nuts. Of particular note is a depiction of what looks like pizza, although notably absent are staple pizza ingredients such as tomatoes and mozzarella; instead, it appears to be a focaccia-like bread on which are placed various food items, including possibly a pomegranate and a date.
Excavations in Ancient Pompeii, which was destroyed in 79 CE by the eruption of nearby Mt. Vesuvius, have revealed a traditional Roman home with a central atrium, kitchen shrine, oven, and beautiful frescoes. Astonishingly, one of the frescoes includes a depiction of something that looks an awful lot like pizza, a cuisine that originated in Naples nearly 2,000 years later. The home’s entrance opened onto its central atrium on the eastern side. To the atrium’s north were found a laundry area and a bed that was destroyed in the eruption. On the west was a large oven, as well as […]
