Egyptian vase found in Pompeii fast food kitchen

"A glass paste vase decorated with hunting scenes that was produced in Alexandria has been discovered in the thermopolium of Regio V in Pompeii. This type of large blue-glazed faience situla has typically been found as a garden ornament in the wealthy homes of Pompeii, but this one somehow made its way into the kitchen of a fast food joint. First discovered in 2019, the ancient street food stand's vivid frescoes made it unique among more than 80 snack bar-type establishments frequented by Pompeii's poorer residents."

"The main counter and service area was excavated in 2020/2021, and in 2023, the adjoining spaces began to be excavated. Archaeologists uncovered a service room and on the floor above it, a small two-room apartment, one of which had walls frescoed in the IV style with faux architecture painted in perspective. The floor was painted yellow. The room was furnished, and some of the objects had polychrome marble inlays. Highly ornamented wooden boxes contained personal belongings."

"The kitchen on the ground floor was preserved virtually intact. Cooking tools including mortars and pans and numerous wine amphorae from all over the Mediterranean were found still in their original locations. At the time of the eruption, the room adjoining the Thermopolium served as a service room. The interior spaces appeared to be organized in a functional manner: a small bathroom was located next to the entrance overlooking Balcony Alley, while an area was intended for the storage of amphorae and containers for preserving liquids."

An Alexandrian glass paste vase decorated with hunting scenes—a large blue-glazed faience situla—was discovered in the thermopolium of Regio V in Pompeii. The object contrasts with typical finds of such situlae as garden ornaments in wealthy homes because it was located in a street food establishment. Excavations began in 2019, with the main counter and service area unearthed in 2020–2021 and adjoining spaces opened in 2023. The site preserved a nearly intact ground-floor kitchen with cooking tools, mortars, pans, and Mediterranean wine amphorae, a service room, and a two-room apartment above with IV-style frescoes, yellow flooring, polychrome inlays, and ornate wooden boxes, suggesting the manager lived onsite and illustrating intensive commercial and cultural exchanges.

Read at www.thehistoryblog.com