Looks Like Pizzas Were Enjoyed 2,000 Years Ago
- Editor OGN Daily
- Jun 30, 2023
- 1 min read
Archaeologists in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii have uncovered a painting which depicts what might be the precursor to the Italian pizza.
The flatbread depicted in the 2,000-year-old fresco "may be a distant ancestor of the modern dish", Italy's culture ministry said. "How can we fail to think, in this regard, of pizza, also born as a 'poor' dish in southern Italy, which has now conquered the world," he said.
However, it lacks the classic ingredients to technically be considered a pizza - in today's terms. Be that as it may, it's intriguing to think that the fresco is only about 14 miles from the city of Naples - the modern day home of the UNESCO protected Italian pizza.
The fresco was found in the hall of a house next to a bakery during recent digs at the site in southern Italy. The building was partially excavated in the 19th Century before digging recommenced in January this year - nearly two millennia on from the volcanic eruption which engulfed the city.
Archaeologists at the Unesco World Heritage park say the newly-uncovered fresco depicting the flatbread, painted 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 eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79 buried Pompeii in ash, freezing the city and its residents in time. The site has been a rich source for archaeologists since its discovery in the 16th Century.
