Photos: Archaeologists uncover ancient street food shop in Pompeii

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Photos: Archaeologists uncover ancient street food shop in Pompeii

The shop was discovered in the archaeological park's Regio V site

Published: December 27, 2020 11:38 Reuters and compiled by Balaram Menon, Senior Web Editor

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Frescoes on an ancient counter discovered during excavations in Pompeii, Italy. — 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. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A fresco on an ancient counter depicting a nymph riding a horse uncovered during excavations in Pompeii. — Known as a termopolium, Latin for hot drinks counter, the shop was discovered in the archaeological park's Regio V site, which is not yet open the public, and unveiled on Saturday. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A fresco depicting two ducks and a rooster on an ancient counter discovered during excavations in Pompeii. — Traces of nearly 2,000-year-old food were found in some of the deep terra cotta jars containing hot food which the shop keeper lowered into a counter with circular holes. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A fresco on an ancient counter uncovered during excavations in Pompeii. — The front of the counter was decorated with brightly coloured frescoes, some depicting animals that were part of the ingredients in the food sold, such as a chicken and two ducks hanging upside down. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A fresco on an ancient counter depicting a nymph riding a horse uncovered during excavations in Pompeii. — "This is an extraordinary find. It's the first time we are excavating an entire termopolium," said Massimo Ossana, director of the Pompeii archaeological park. | Above: A fresco on an ancient counter depicting a nymph riding a horse. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Frescoes on an ancient counter discovered during excavations in Pompeii. — Archaeologists also found a decorated bronze drinking bowl known as a patera, ceramic jars used for cooking stews and soups, wine flasks and amphora. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Copy of POMPEII-ARCHAEOLOGY~1-1609052829624 — Mount Vesuvius overlooks the town of Pompeii. Pompeii, 23 km southeast of Naples, was home to about 13,000 people when it was buried under ash, pumice pebbles and dust as it endured the force of an eruption equivalent to many atomic bombs. Image Credit: NYT

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A fresco on an ancient counter depicting a rooster that was uncovered during excavations in Pompeii. — A fresco on an ancient counter depicting a rooster. "Our preliminary analyses shows that the figures drawn on the front of the counter, represent, at least in part, the food and drink that were sold there," said Valeria Amoretti, a site anthropologist. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A fresco on an ancient counter depicting two ducks that was uncovered during excavations in Pompeii. — Amoretti said traces of pork, fish, snails and beef had been found in the containers, a discovery she called a "testimony to the great variety of animal products used to prepare dishes". | Above: A fresco on an ancient counter depicting two ducks. Image Credit: REUTERS

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A fresco on an ancient counter depicting a dog on a leash that was uncovered during excavations in Pompeii. — A fresco on an ancient counter depicting a dog on a leash. About two-thirds of the 66-hectare (165-acre) ancient town has been uncovered. The ruins were not discovered until the 16th century and organised excavations began about 1750. Image Credit: REUTERS

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Copy of Italy_Pompeii_Fast_Food_69012.jpg-981c6-1609052822924 — A rare documentation of Greco-Roman life, Pompeii is one of Italy's most popular attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of Italy_Pompeii_Fast_Food_73836.jpg-2b16a-1609052827121 — The thermopolium in the Pompeii archeological park. Image Credit: AP

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Copy of 252859-01-02-1609052824983 — A thermopolium, a sort of street "fast-food" counter in ancient Rome, decorated with polychrome motifs and in an exceptional state of preservation. Image Credit: AFP

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