Ancient Fast Food: The Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus

Ancient Fast Food: The Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus. Fresco at Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus (place where food and hot drinks were sold).

In ancient Rome, the Thermopolium was a place which served hot food and drinks, something like today's fast food or diner.

The word hermopolia comes from Greek, θερμοπώλιον (thermopōlion), literally "a place where (something) hot is sold".

The best-preserved thermopolium in Pompeii is that of Lucius Vetitius Placidus, though 89 have been found, it is believed that about 150 once existed here.

The marble counter has jars inset into the worktop (dolia) which were used to hold food, such as chickpeas, beans and dried fruit.

Ancient Fast Food: The Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus

During excavation work one of these dolia was found to hold a large quantity of coins to the value of about 585 sesterces, maybe put there for safe-keeping until the eruption subsided. A stove, on the counter facing the eastern wall, was for heating food.

The well-preserved aedicule (household shrine) on the back wall, is a lararium dedicated to the protector gods of the house (Lari), the Genius protector of the owner, the god of commerce (Mercury) and the god of wine (Dionysus).

The owner's private house was attached to the room, accessed by a separate entrance. There was also an enclosed garden, where herbs for cooking were grown.

At another site in Pompeii, at the Thermopolium of Asellina, jugs and dishes were found on the counter, as well as a kettle filled with water.

Ancient Fast Food The Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus

The Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus was reopened after restoration in March of 2010. 

 Pompeii, the almost 2,000 year old Roman town destroyed and preserved by a volcano, near Naples, in the Campania region of Italy