2,000-Year-Old “Fast Food” Bar Found In Pompeii

Archaeologists have discovered dozens of thermopolia, or snack bars in the ancient city.

pompeii
Objects found in Pompeii. (Marco Cantile/LightRocket via Getty Images)
LightRocket via Getty Images

Archaeologists have recently discovered thermopolia, or snack bars, in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. About 150 of these “fast food” counters have been found scattered across the city, reports The Guardian. 

These thermopolia were likely used by the poorer residents who did not have cooking facilities at home. Residents could find coarse bread with salty fish, based cheese, lentils, or spicy wine on the menu at one of these snack bars.

Massimo Ossana, a professor of archaeology and a site director at one of the locations where the snack bars were found, shared a picture of the 2,000-year-old relic, found in Regio V, a site to the north of the archaeological park, on Instagram.

“A thermopolium has been brought back to light, with its beautiful frescoed counter,” he wrote, according to The Guardian. 

Excavations of Regio V. have so far yielded dozens of discoveries, including art, human remains, and a horse saddle. Pompeii was destroyed by an eruption that killed more than 2,000 people. The first ruins were discovered in the 16th century and excavations started in 1748, reports The Guardian. 

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