Discoveries

July 04, 2023

Proto-Dishes

Listen to Today's Edition

Archaeologists in Pompeii discovered a still-life fresco depicting a very Mediterranean meal, including what appears to be a pizza, Live Science reported.

The Archaeological Park of Pompeii unveiled the image last week, which was found during recent excavations on the ancient city destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE.

The well-preserved image showed a full wine glass on a silver tray, pomegranates, yellow berries, and a flatbread with a bunch of condiments on top of it – the presumed pizza.

But park officials noted that the deceiving image is in fact depicting a flat focaccia with some spices and pesto. They explained that focaccias – back then known as panis focacius – were commonly eaten in Pompeii and were considered frugal meals.

They added that it couldn’t be a pizza because the key ingredients, mozzarella and tomato sauce, were not present before 79 CE: Tomatoes were introduced in Europe around the 16th century, while mozzarella was made sometime during the 11th century.

“How can we not think about pizza,” Gabriel Zuchtriegel, the park’s director general, said in a statement, noting it was a food “born as a ‘poor’ dish in southern Italy that has now conquered the world.”

Pizzas were baked in Italy from around the 19th century.

Even so, the fresco – known as a xenia – served as an important symbol of hospitality in the ancient city, according to archaeologists.

Its presence at the atrium of the house reflected the homeowner’s desire to treat guests well – despite the absence of actual pizzas.

This story originally appeared in the July 04, 2023 newsletter, Gassed.