'Pizza' painting found in ancient Roman ruins of Pompeii

Reuters ^ | June 30, 2023 | Reporting by Cristina Carlevaro, editing by Alvise Armellini and Angus MacSwan

[SunkenCiv]

A fresco that depicts what might be an ancestor of the Italian pizza has been found on the wall of an house in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, Italy's Culture Ministry said on Tuesday.

Archaeologists presume that the flat bread depicted in the painting, next to a wine goblet, may have been eaten with fruits such as pomegranates or dates, or dressed with spices and a type of pesto sauce, the ministry said.

While it cannot technically be considered a pizza, since it lacks classic ingredients such as tomato and mozzarella, what was found in Pompeii "may be a distant relative of the modern dish", according to a statement.

Pompeii, destroyed by an eruption of the Mount Vesuvius volcano nearly 2,000 years ago, is only about 23 km away from Naples, the modern-day home of the Italian pizza, a UNESCO-protected food.

The fresco was discovered in the hall of a house that had a bakery attached to it, which was partly excavated in the 19th century and where digging resumed in January, the culture ministry said.

The Pompeii site, not discovered until the 16th century, has seen a burst of recent archaeological activity aimed at halting years of decay and neglect, largely thanks to a recently concluded 105-million-euro ($114.85 million) EU-funded project.

[Greetings_Puny_Humans]

You should check out all the other frescos in Pompeii. They’re all quite amazing.

[Bob434]

nm i guess they aren’t- they were off to the side of the pizza to the right- neat painting though- almost Trompe-l’œil

[Bounced2X]

Please note: no pineapple. Those of us who fight against the pineapple-on-pizza atrocity are upholding ancient tradition

That's like ketchup on a hot dog. Which is culinary blaspheme.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

"Don’t know what other sauces go well on a pizza that isn’t tomato"

Try fresh-made pesto sauce! Yum!
And try a good white-sauce! Yum yum!

I've been making homemade tomato sauce for our pizzas with D.O.P. Pomodoro San Marzano tomatoes. Some added salt, olive oil, and basil -- no cooking required. Simple and really excellent! The tomatoes are a bit pricey, but that 28 ounce can makes a LOT of sauce.

[qam1]

But they may have had Pineapples back in Ancient Rome

https://ctruth.today/2019/11/06/the-pompeian-pineapple/

Hope they didn't put it on their Pizza

[GaltAdonis]

Hey - some white pizzas (no tomato sauce) are quite good!

[freedom1st]

Nothing like morning after pizza to treat a hangover

[SunkenCiv]

Fish sauce was probably involved as well (not on the 'pizza', necessarily, just elsewhere on the tray).

• Ancient Rome: Sunken City Devastated by a Tsunami 1,600 Years Ago Discovered off Tunisian Coast [05/29/2023]
• Ancient Roman Garum Factory Found in Israel, Suitably Far Away From Town [02/07/2020]
• Pompeii 'fast food' bar unearthed in ancient city after 2,000 years [04/01/2019]
• 200,000 fish bones suggest ancient Scandinavian people were more complex than thought [02/08/2016]
• Sunken haul of Roman fish sauce found off Italy [12/12/2015]
• Fermenting herring prompted gas leak call [09/09/2012]
• How the Cavemen Ate: Cookbook Reveals 77 Recipes Stretching Right Back to the Stone Age [05/12/2012]
• How a Ship Full of Fish Helped Recreate an Ancient Fish Sauce [03/06/2012]
• Roman Shipwreck Discovered Near Aeolian Islands [07/02/2010]
• Fish Sauce Used to Date Pompeii Eruption [ garum / liquamen] [09/30/2008]
• Giant Roman Shipwreck Yields "Fishy" Treasure [11/21/2006]
• Waiter, There's a Fish in My Wine! [01/31/2005]

[Skywise]

“Your pizza delivered to you in 30 minutes or its free!”
(offer void after sunset when time can’t be measured!)

2000 years ago... they had advertising 2000 years ago...

[SunkenCiv]

Or even without the hangover. Cold pizza for breakfast is great.

[SunkenCiv]

Clams or oysters at least.

[Ezekiel]

A fresco that depicts what might be an ancestor of the Italian pizza has been found on the wall of an house in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, Italy's Culture Ministry said on Tuesday.

The clue was the Alfresco sauce.

[SunkenCiv]

• Excavations Shed Light on the Everyday Life of Pompeii's Middle Class [08/11/2022]
• Ancient snack stall uncovered in Pompeii, revealing bright frescoes and traces of 2,000-year-old street food [12/26/2020]
• Earliest Roman Restaurant Found in France: Night Life Featured Heavy Drinking [07/03/2016]
• [from January 3, 2014] Giraffe Was on Menu in Pompeii Restaurants [07/02/2015]
• In pictures: Ancient Roman paintings [12/21/2007]
• Ancient Romans Preferred Fast Food [06/19/2007]
• Stuffed Dormice A Roman Favourite [07/21/2003]

[frank ballenger]

Writing on a shard of pottery said “Hold the anchovies.”

[Billthedrill]

Ah, the Romans! Who considered beer barbaric and throwing Christians to the lions to be fun family entertainment. Pizza's too good for 'em.

And when I get to be Emperor pineapple on pizza will be mandatory! MUHAHAHAHAHA!!

[SunkenCiv]

Emperor Bromeliad may have been the first to decree that.

[webheart]

Troll Mode Activate!

You can’t just let your phone fill in the entire word of tomatoes?

[Leep]

Delivered in 1500 years or less.. or its free!

[mairdie]

B.C. realism was quite good. The move into unrealistic perspectives came with the symbolism of the early church requirements on painters and destroyed the old realism. Came back after medieval period.

[TalBlack]

What no pineapple?