What Is the Most Famous Food in Pompeii?

Pompeii, an ancient city in Italy, was famously destroyed in 79 A.D. when Mount Vesuvius erupted. The site was discovered in 1748, and some of the artifacts and buildings have been remarkably well-preserved over the years. One thing that has captured the attention of many scientists and archaeologists is the city’s food culture — what did they eat?

Many of the frescoes and other artifacts that have been excavated from Pompeii suggest that the most famous food was seafood. Fish, particularly tuna, were a staple of the local diet.

It is believed that tuna fishing flourished in Pompeii because of its proximity to a large bay known as the Bay of Naples. Other popular seafood dishes included eel and shellfish such as mussels, oysters, and clams.

Grains were also an important part of the diet in Pompeii. Wheat and barley were grown locally and used to make breads and porridges.

Rye was also cultivated but it was not as popular as wheat or barley. Wine was produced from grapes grown in vineyards around Pompeii, while olives were harvested from groves nearby for use in cooking and for making olive oil.

Fruits such as figs, pomegranates, cherries, plums, apples, dates, pears, quinces, apricots, mulberries, walnuts, chestnuts and peaches were all found growing around Pompeii; some of these fruits would have been dried or preserved for later use during times when fresh fruit wasn’t available.

Meat dishes were not uncommon but they tended to be more expensive than other foods due to their rarity; pork was often served at wealthy homes while chicken was more commonly consumed by people with less money. Beef wasn’t eaten much at all since cows were too valuable to be slaughtered for meat.

Conclusion:

The most famous food in Pompeii is undoubtedly seafood; fish such as tuna were a staple part of the diet while shellfish like mussels and oysters also featured heavily on menus throughout the city.