Researchers said on Saturday they had discovered a frescoed thermopolium or fast-food counter in an exceptional state of preservation in Pompeii.
The ornate snack bar, decorated with polychrome patterns and frozen by volcanic ash, was partially exhumed last year but archaeologists extended work on the site to reveal it in its full glory.
— The Guardian
The astonishingly well preserved and nearly 2,000-year-old snack bar, or Thermopolium, in Pompeii's Regio V has re-emerged in its entirety, along with food residues, animal bones, and victims of the AD 79 volcanic eruption, following a lengthy excavation effort.
"The decorations on the counter — which were the first to emerge during the excavation — comprise the image of a Nereid riding a sea-horse in a marine setting on the front, while the shorter side features an illustration which is probably of the shop itself, like a kind of trademark," reports the Archaeological Park of Pompeii's website. "It was not by chance that the discovery during the excavation of amphorae, located in front of the counter, reflected the painted image."
12 Comments
Over MXXMMDX served
great inspiration for federal architecture in the US.
The tradition continues in some Mediterranean countries. This is in Turkey. These places are called "esnaf lokantasi" which translates as "tradesmen's restaurant" where shop owners, workers, and shoppers themselves eat lunch and early dinners. Great variety of food, decadently displayed and served.
Hard to believe architecture itself couldn't learn from this example.
why are the ducks painted upside down? i love these inexplicable details.
They're displayed for shoppers, as at a meat market.
The more things change...
Non habemus Coke. Pepsi.
libero bibendum iterum
[free refills]
My reference was to the Olympia.
McDonald's food was never good for you, but at least it used to taste good. Another regret I have is that snl used to be funny. I don't take these as indications of my getting older, but rather as signs of the decay of civilization.
Yes, I got the excellent reference. Coincidentally in the last few years when ordering a diet coke, I've heard "is diet pepsi okay?" about a thousand times. I've learned not to bother with the SNL reference though anymore... it's over their heads by now.
Unfortunately, the decline of SNL (and so much other comedy) warrants an entire other internet.
I should have said the decline and fall of the American empire.
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