Egyptian vase discovered in Pompeii fast food kitchen – The

A paste-glass vase from Alexandria decorated with a hunting scene was found in the Museum of Reggio V in Pompeii. This large, blue-glazed pottery would normally be found as a garden decoration in wealthy homes in Pompeii, but somehow it found its way into the kitchen of a fast-food restaurant.

First discovered in 2019, this ancient street food stall’s vivid murals make it unique among the more than 80 tapas bar-type establishments frequented by Pompeii’s poor residents. Excavation of the main counter and service area took place in 2020/2021, with excavation of the adjacent space beginning in 2023.

Archaeologists discovered a service room and on the floor above it a small two-bedroom apartment, one of which had IV-style frescoes on its walls and artificial structures drawn in perspective. The floor is painted yellow. The room is fully furnished and some items are inlaid with colorful marble. Beautifully decorated wooden boxes contained personal belongings. Archaeologists believe that the manager or owner of the thermal wave pool may have lived in this apartment.

The kitchen on the first floor is almost intact. Cooking tools, including mortars and pans, and numerous wine bottles from across the Mediterranean were found still in their original locations.

When the volcano erupted, the room adjacent to the Thermopolium was used as a service room. The interior space seems to be organized in a functional way: a small bathroom is located next to the entrance, overlooking the balcony lane, while an area is used to store amphorae and containers for preserving liquids. The remaining area houses items used for food processing, cooking and storage.

One of the most important artifacts found here is the beautifully decorated faience pottery, which is a valuable testimony to the intensive commercial and cultural exchange that characterized Pompeii.