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Archaeologists uncover an ancient food stall in Pompeii

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A frescoed hot food and drinks stall has been discovered by archaeologists in the ancient city of Pompeii. The stall, known as a thermopolium, would likely have served the ancient equivalent of street food.

A frescoed hot food and drinks stall has been discovered by archaeologists in the ancient city of Pompeii. The stall, known as a thermopolium, would likely have served the ancient equivalent of street food.

  1. 26 Dec 2020
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  2. 27 Dec 2020

    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.

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  3. Pompeii Archaeological Park's longtime chief, Massimo Osanna said that while some 80 such fast-foods have been found at Pompeii in Italy, it is the first time such a hot-food-drink eatery — known as a thermopolium — was completely unearthed.

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  4. Ancient leftovers from Pompeii were found this month after archaeologists excavated a thermopolium, or snack bar. A soupy concoction of snails, sheep and fish appears to have been all the rage in 79 AD.

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  5. The discovery of a street food shop (“termopolium”) in Pompeii — with complete, colorful frescoes of what you can eat, like chicken and duck — is really mind-blowing. Pots even found containing traces of food from 79 A.D.

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  6. 26 Dec 2020

    Extraordinary frescoes of animals revealed on the side of the bar counter in Region V that was partially excavated in 2019. The dog straining at the leash is incredible as the detail of the hen’s plumage. Two ducks await to be cooked. Photos: Luigi Spina |

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  7. 26 Dec 2020

    In true Pompeian style there’s a crude graffito scratched in the plaster possibly referring to the owner of the bar, a Greek called Nicia. It reads “Nicia cineade cavatore” that translates as “Nicia shameless shitter”. Got to love bar banter. Photo: Luigi Spina |

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  8. 26 Dec 2020

    Roman Empire artifacts/finds often underscore how much things regressed in the Middle Ages: you wouldn't find a fresco'd (!!!) food stop in 1100's England but you WOULD one in Pompeii a millennium (!!!) earlier. Incredible.

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