Did People Eat Pizza 2000 Years Ago? Pompeii Wall Painting Discovered

Ancient City Food Mural Discovered
"Possible Distant Ancestor of Modern Pizza"

Did ancient Romans enjoy pizza 2,000 years ago?

In the ancient city of Pompeii in southern Italy, a mural depicting a food similar to pizza has been discovered.

A mural discovered at the Pompeii ruins.
[Image source=BBC]

On the 27th (local time), according to the British BBC and others, the Italian Ministry of Culture recently announced that during excavation work at the Pompeii archaeological site, a fresco mural believed to depict pizza was found. The fresco technique involves applying lime plaster to a wall and coloring it with pigments before the plaster dries. Because the lime itself is colored, the painting does not disappear unless the wall collapses.

The mural shows fruit and bread on a silver tray. Notably, there are ochre-colored dots painted on the bread, which appear to be a seasoning similar to pizza sauce. The mural was reportedly discovered in the courtyard of a building believed to be a bakery in Pompeii.

The Italian Ministry of Culture stated in a press release, "Considering the lack of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, it is clear that what is depicted in the mural is not pizza in the strict sense. However, based on the analysis of the mural, it is possible that this bread is a distant ancestor of modern pizza."

Meanwhile, Pompeii, located southwest of Naples, Italy, is a city that disappeared due to the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Pompeii was considered one of the most prosperous cities at the time but was instantly reduced to ruins by the volcanic eruption.

However, the discovery of ruins during 16th-century waterway construction led to the start of full-scale excavation work, which is still ongoing.

The Pompeii archaeological site is excellently preserved and holds great archaeological value for providing insight into the lives of people at that time. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.