It was sometime in the late summer or early autumn of 79 CE that Mount Vesuvius—the enormous volcano in southern Italy, near the city of Naples, erupted with such enormous ferocity that many of the surrounding Roman towns and villages were obliterated. Most notable of all of these were the towns of Stabiae, Herculaneum, and most famous of all — Pompeii. Positioned at the southeastern base of Mount Vesuvius, Pompeii found itself in the direct line of fire from the eruption.
It was just after midday on the day of the eruption that fragments of ash, pumice stone, and other debris began raining down on the city of Pompeii, quickly covering the city in a thick layer of material more than 9ft deep. The weight of the debris caused roofs to collapse, trapping and killing many of the people sheltering inside, while vast superheated bursts of volcanic material and gas rapidly asphyxiated or burned all those not killed by falling debris. Over much of the following day, this cycle continued, until eventually some parts of the once vibrant city of Pompeii were buried under as much as 19ft of volcanic material. The city and its surroundings would remain encased in ash and rock for the next 1,700 years.
The ruins of Pompeii were discovered in the late 16th century, but work to excavate what remained of the city did not begin until 1748. Famously, the brutal but extraordinary way in which it was destroyed had preserved the city; along with around 1,500 of its inhabitants, in extraordinary condition. As a result, researchers at Pompeii have been able to uncover such tantalizing relics as Ancient Roman graffiti, electoral slogans, and political propaganda, “beware of the dog” signs, and even pornographic murals amid the city’s ruins. All in all, the remains of Pompeii give us an all but unique insight into life in 1st century CE Roman Europe.
Of all the remarkable things uncovered at Pompeii, however, perhaps one of the most bizarre is what is properly known as thermopolium—or, in other words, an Ancient Roman takeaway shop.
The thermopolium at Pompeii, properly known as the Thermopolium of Asellina, after the woman who is presumed to have run it, is one of the most complete and best-preserved in all Roman archeology. Built over two floors, it is believed that the ground floor of the thermopolium operated essentially as a tavern and takeaway store, given that its large, broad doorway was left open to the street. Jugs and serving dishes were found on the shop’s counter, as well as a kettle filled with water, and a series of holes were set deep into the countertop for holding jars containing food, wine, and perhaps snacks like nuts and dried fruits.
The lower floor of Asellina’s shop was presumably used by customers for eating, drinking, and purchasing food to take away with them. The upper floor, however, seems likely to have had a somewhat different purpose.
Upstairs at the thermopolium are a series of guest rooms, which have led some researchers to believe the business operated as a tavern, with guests offered a hot meal and a bed for the evening. Others, however, believe that it likely operated as a brothel, and that the names recorded on the walls and posters in and around the premises were not those of the barmaids or serving girls but perhaps of sex workers who operated there. Whether the thermopolium indeed had a less wholesome purpose other than serving hot food will likely never be known for sure; however, its use as a handy takeaway for the people of Pompeii is assured.