Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Archaeologists Uncover a Fresco in Pompeii with a Tacky Pizza-Like Dish Served on a Silver Platter — Colossal

[ad_1]



Artwork
Meals
Historical past

#archaeology
#Italy
#pizza

June 28, 2023

Grace Ebert

Archaeologists Uncover a Fresco in Pompeii with a Tacky Pizza-Like Dish Served on a Silver Platter — Colossal

All pictures courtesy of Archeological Park of Pompeii

Pompeiians—they’re similar to us! Hungry for pizza.

Earlier this yr, archaeologists excavating a block of homes in Regio IX of the Vesuvian metropolis uncovered a fresco that exhibits a spherical, doughy dish resembling the fashionable favourite. Researchers have been fast to level out that pizza, as we all know it at the moment, hadn’t been invented when the two,000-year-old portray was created, though the traditional civilization did get pleasure from foccacia, a cousin of the tomato and cheese-covered pie.

This dish seems topped with pomegranate, spices, and a tacky pesto often called moretum. Served on a silver platter accompanied by dried fruit, yellow strawberries, and a chalice crammed with wine, the focaccia doubtless represents a “reward of hospitality,” in keeping with the Archeological Park of Pompeii. These choices to friends emerged from the Hellenistic interval and the Greek observe of Xenia, which additionally describes the style of work depicting this custom.

Roughly 300 frescoes of historic meals have been discovered round Pompeii, though this nonetheless life is especially nicely executed. Whereas the work gives perception into what the buried civilization ate, director Gabriel Zuchtriegel says it additionally has implications for a way we perceive the evolution of meals and wealth, sharing:

I take into consideration the distinction between a modest and easy meal that reminds us of a sphere that stands between the pastoral and the sacred on one facet, and the luxurious of the silver trays and the refinement of the creative and literary representations on the other facet. When contemplating this matter, how can we not take into consideration pizza, additionally born as a ‘poor’ dish in southern Italy that has now conquered the world and is served in Michelin star eating places.

This discovery comes three years after archaeologists in Pompeii uncovered an impeccably preserved snack store that served up fish, fowl, and naturally, loads of wine.

 

An ancient fresco on a wall depicts a pizza-like dish, chalice with wine, and fruit served on a silver platter. A stripe of ornate motif is nearby

A stripe of ornate motif, with a red and green rendering to the left of that. Rocks are nearby

An ancient fresco on a wall depicts a pizza-like dish, chalice with wine, and fruit served on a silver platter. A stripe of ornate motif is to the left, with a red and green rendering to the left of that

Archeologists dig up a site in Pompeii

#archaeology
#Italy
#pizza

 

Do tales and artists like this matter to you? Develop into a Colossal Member at the moment and assist impartial arts publishing for as little as $5 monthly. You will join with a neighborhood of like-minded readers who’re keen about up to date artwork, learn articles and newsletters ad-free, maintain our interview collection, get reductions and early entry to our limited-edition print releases, and rather more. Be part of now!



[ad_2]

Related Articles

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Latest Articles