What Archeology Reveals About Fast Food in the Roman Empire 🐟 | Life in Ancient Times w/ ‪@DariusArya‬

YouTube ^ | March 4, 2025 | PBS

[SunkenCiv]

Explore the concept of fast food in ancient Rome, focusing on the thermopolia—small bars and eateries that catered to busy city dwellers. These establishments were especially important for those who didn’t have kitchens at home, offering pre-prepared food like grilled meats, vegetables, cheese, and even heated wine. The thermopolia were found near busy urban areas like the forum and the baths, providing a quick and affordable dining experience for Romans on the go. 

We visit Ostia Antica, the port city of Rome, where frescoes still depict typical menu items, such as olives, eggs, and cheese. These establishments also featured large jars of wine, grills, and sometimes patios for customers to relax while enjoying their meals. Fast food joints in ancient Rome were fun, quick, and cheap, similar to modern street food. 

What Archeology Reveals About Fast Food in the Roman Empire 🐟 
Life in Ancient Times w/ ‪@DariusArya‬ | 8:58 
PBS | 1.56M subscribers | 49,177 views | March 4, 2025

 

Guest guide CIAO BELLA with Erica Firpo

---

TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: dariusarya; dietandcuisine; fastfood; food; godsgravesglyphs; romanempire; rome; sunkenciv

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks! There are a couple more I think, Tasting History may have been one of them that showed up in that search link above.

Great, now I’m hungry.

[SunkenCiv]

“An animal must possess two specific characteristics to be considered kosher: it must have completely split hooves and it must chew its cud.”

(there are four I believe)

Fowl don’t count, nor do fish, those are okay — but shellfish are off limits.

Also, a dish made of mingled milk and meat are a no-no. Hence no pizza, but that wasn’t a problem at the time. One of the ancient texts from among the neighbors of the Israelites included a sort of recipe for boiling a calf in the milk (probably colostrum) of its mother, that was right out.

There’s more than 300 food laws, no wonder Chinese food (other than shrimp fried rice and the like) is so popular in Hollywood. 😎

[Jamestown1630]

Isn’t there something about the scales of the fish? I think it has to have scales...

[dinodino]

They are so tasty…just the thought of nam pla or garum made my mouth water.

[kaktuskid]

They had the real Roman Meal bread!

[atc23]

I thought they closed down on account the violent and obese Ethiopians who would invariably get Chimpy if they order messed up

[daniel1212]

Thx. Is this related to, or are you working with the poster of The Chamber Pot: An Object Full of Contradictions friendsofdalnavert.ca Posted on 8/29/2025, 9:32:36 PM by kawhill?

Seems to be quite a coincidence!

We should imagine what we would miss if we woke up about just 200 years ago. Most of human history was even more lacking, but the positives are also missing.

[SunkenCiv]

Since the topics are unrelated, and after getting pinged to that one, and not seeing it of much interest, your comment makes no sense.

[daniel1212]

Since the topics are unrelated, and after getting pinged to that one, and not seeing it of much interest, your comment makes no sense.

I was thinking of how human waste testifies to what they ate*, thus in principle at least, What Archeology Reveals About Fast Food and The old Chamber Pot are related, while two posts in a row on the subject of what past civilizations did, seemed incongruous, and which I remarked on as being rather humorous. Sorry for any misunderstanding. *

https://www.npr.org › sections › thesalt › 2018 › 04 › 25 › 605798840 › dna-analysis-of-ancient-excrement-reveals-the-diets-of-centuries-past DNA Analysis Of Ancient Excrement Reveals The Diets Of Centuries Past - NPR Apr 25, 2018Researchers are exhuming ancient dung from toilets of yore to reconstruct snapshots of food and lifestyle in bygone centuries. The parasites that show up in privies reveal a lot about what people ate.

https://www.smithsonianmag.com › smart-news › dna-ancient-latrines-reveal-what-people-ate-centuries-ago-180968947 DNA From Ancient Latrines Reveal What People Ate Centuries Ago DNA From Ancient Latrines Reveal What People Ate Centuries Ago By digging in ancient toilets, researchers uncovered genetic material that tells of past diets and diseases

[SunkenCiv]

Archaeologists do tend to get a lot of information from medieval, ancient, and prehistoric refuse -- seeds, husks, broken tools, broken pottery, bones of food animals etc. Years ago I was planting a tree and unearthed some bone fragments apparently disposed of by my great-grands. Alas, outhouse excavations tend to turn up old liniment and potent potables bottles.

[frank ballenger]

LOL

I’m sure that was the real reason.

Back then everyone with a reed pen or a stylus was adding snarky gossip on the wax covered wooden tablets, papyrus, vellum or ostraka pieces and making the food places look bad. Companies were afraid to blame the Ethiopians for the violence.

[Redcitizen]

🤦‍♂️

That was terrible. As in terribly good. 👍 😁

[SunkenCiv]

😎