«It's a treasure chest that always reveals new treasures»
An ancient fresco found in Pompeii may be a 2,000-year-old pizza. An antique still life depicts a fruit very similar to a pineapple, although it is almost certainly something else — since this fruit became known to Europe only after the discovery of the New World.
Among the ruins of ancient Pompeii, a striking still-life fresco reminiscent of pizza has been found, although the dish seems to be missing two main ingredients – tomatoes and mozzarella, – and it includes a product that looks suspiciously like a pineapple.
According to The Guardian, the 2,000-year-old fresco was discovered during excavations in the Regio IX area of the Pompeii archaeological park, which is located near Naples, home of pizza. The image was on a wall in what is believed to have been the entryway of the house that housed the bakery in an annex.
The mural appears to be a round focaccia bread on a silver tray serving as a stand for various fruits, including a pomegranate and possibly a date.
However, “pineapple” on a plate, most likely represents something completely different, since the first European to encounter this fruit was Christopher Columbus on Guadeloupe in 1493.
Experts say the bread is flavored with spices or moretum – cheese pasta with herbs, which was eaten by the ancient Romans. Next to the bread is a goblet of wine, as well as dried fruit, dates, a pomegranate and a garland of yellow arbutus (fruits of the strawberry tree).
It is believed that the still life was inspired by the Greek ritual of hospitality, and therefore the tray represented gifts, which were offered to guests as part of a tradition dating back to the Hellenistic period. Such images were widespread in the houses of ancient Pompeii and nearby Herculaneum, which were both razed to the ground during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
However, it is unusual to find such a fresco containing an image of focaccia, writes The Guardian.
Gabriel Zuchtrigel, director of the Pompeii Archaeological Park, said the fresco appears to reflect the contrast between «modest and simple dining» ; and “the luxury of silver trays and the sophistication of artistic and literary representations”.
“How can we not think in this regard of pizza, which was also born as ”poor" a dish of southern Italy, but has now conquered the world and is also served in famous restaurants», – Zuchtrigel said.
Naples – home to the margarita, a traditional pizza made from a simple mixture of tomatoes, mozzarella, fresh basil and extra virgin olive oil, and the idea of garnishing it with fruit infuriates many Italians, notes The Guardian.
Gino Sorbillo, the owner of one of the oldest pizzerias in Naples, is convinced that the image on the fresco in Pompeii is actually a pizza. “We already knew in ancient Pompeii that there were varieties of flatbread made from grain, water, salt, and possibly beer as leavening, – he said. – Then they could cover the flatbread with vegetables or fish of that time… It was an ancient type of pizza”.
He added that during the ancient Roman period, fruit may have been considered more of a main course. When it comes to fruit on pizza these days, he says, «You can use fruit, like figs, or strawberries, if it's a sweet pizza.»
But when asked if the fresco settled the pineapple dispute at the pizza, Sorbillo replied emphatically, «No.»
“Tastes are tastes, – he added. – We make traditional pizza and would never use pineapple.
Most 2,000 people died as a result of the eruption of Vesuvius. The ruins were discovered in the 16th century, and the first excavations began in 1748.
Excavations on island 10 in Regio IX, an area of the city that housed residences, workshops and a bakery, began in February. The skeletal remains of the three victims (two women and a child) were found in May in a bakery where they were thought to have sought refuge. Frescoes on the walls depicting mythical scenes with Apollo and Daphne on one and Poseidon and Amymone on the other have also been found.
The remains of two other victims, presumably two men around the age of 50, were found in another part of the site in the middle of May. It was believed that the men died as a result of the earthquake that accompanied the eruption of Vesuvius. It is believed that one of them raised his hand in an attempt to defend himself against the falling wall. Nearby were found beads from a necklace and six coins, two of which date back to the middle of the second century BC.
Italian Minister of Culture Gennaro Sangiuliano said that Pompeii «never ceases to amaze». “This is a treasure chest that always opens new treasures”, – he added.