Pompeii - Inns and Thermopolia

Question 1

What food was on offer at the Thermopolia?

Answer 1

Many different foods were preserved in the eruption of 79AD including:

• bread
• walnuts
• olives
• dates
• figs
• shellfish
• almonds

Question 2

What were the Thermopolia used for?

Answer 2

• snack bars
• accommodation for travellers
• some had stables to look after the horses
• served hot food
• useful for poor people to get cheap meals
• a place to socialise, gamble, meet women, drink wine

Question 3

What were dolia?

Answer 3

the food was normally kept in large clay jars called dolia which were placed into round gaps in the main counter. these counters were often decorate with coloured marble which would have helped keep the food cool in the that of Pompeii

Question 4

What was the Thermopolia of Asellina?

Answer 4

• The best preserved inn of Pompeii. It is believed that Asellina was a waitress. Located on the main shopping street of Pompeii- Via D’Abbondanza.
• Had rooms for rent upstairs
• Bar is most famous for its painted shrine on the back wall. On the far left is Mercury and on the other end is Bacchus
• graffiti was found on the wall outisde advertising the names of 3 chambermaids, Aegle, Maria and Zmyrina, who sold their favours

Question 5

What was the layout if a typical inn?

Answer 5

• some had accommodation upstairs
• some had stables
• tables and chairs