Thermopolium
Analysis of the artefact:
This thermopolium is one of the 20 taverns and 130 smaller thermopolia that have been found in Pompeii, however this thermopolium is slightly different in regards to the fact that it also connects to a house, which can be seen with the stairs at the back of the thermopolium. It was common for the plebeians and those of a lower class in society to use their house both as a living space as well as a shop, or otherwise rent out the front of their house to another business owner so that they would have a way to earn money. These thermopolium were used to sell hot food and drink, and were a common place for many plebeians to go and get food, especially as they did not have slaves at home that could cook their food for them. In fact, eating out was regarded as more of a necessity rather than a luxury, because only wealthy households had a kitchen. The counters were generally made out of marble and contained terracotta dolia, into which the hot food or wine were served to the patrons. In the back corner of this particular thermopolium, there is a stove which was used for heating food, hence the ability for hot food to be sold. Patrons could also take their own food to the thermopolium to be heated, which created another style of business altogether. Most typical ancient Roman houses did not have the luxury of having a kitchen, so this resulted in mainly plebeians going to the thermopolium to get lunch and dinner. This then helps to differentiate between the certain social classes and who would go to the thermopolium - as the patricians would have large, luxurious homes they would then have both slaves to cook their food, as well as a kitchen in which to do this. On the back wall of this thermopolium, there is a lararium, or household shrine. This then furthers the point that most shops in Rome also doubled as houses - as it was only houses that had household shrines in which gods were worshiped. This lararium depicts Mercury (the god of commerce) Bacchus (the god of wine), and Lares (the household gods).
This thermopolium is one of the 20 taverns and 130 smaller thermopolia that have been found in Pompeii, however this thermopolium is slightly different in regards to the fact that it also connects to a house, which can be seen with the stairs at the back of the thermopolium. It was common for the plebeians and those of a lower class in society to use their house both as a living space as well as a shop, or otherwise rent out the front of their house to another business owner so that they would have a way to earn money. These thermopolium were used to sell hot food and drink, and were a common place for many plebeians to go and get food, especially as they did not have slaves at home that could cook their food for them. In fact, eating out was regarded as more of a necessity rather than a luxury, because only wealthy households had a kitchen. The counters were generally made out of marble and contained terracotta dolia, into which the hot food or wine were served to the patrons. In the back corner of this particular thermopolium, there is a stove which was used for heating food, hence the ability for hot food to be sold. Patrons could also take their own food to the thermopolium to be heated, which created another style of business altogether. Most typical ancient Roman houses did not have the luxury of having a kitchen, so this resulted in mainly plebeians going to the thermopolium to get lunch and dinner. This then helps to differentiate between the certain social classes and who would go to the thermopolium - as the patricians would have large, luxurious homes they would then have both slaves to cook their food, as well as a kitchen in which to do this. On the back wall of this thermopolium, there is a lararium, or household shrine. This then furthers the point that most shops in Rome also doubled as houses - as it was only houses that had household shrines in which gods were worshiped. This lararium depicts Mercury (the god of commerce) Bacchus (the god of wine), and Lares (the household gods).
Developed conclusions:
While there are other thermopolium in Pompeii and Herculaneum that show the modern world where plebeians ate and drank when they went out, this thermopolium is unique as it also contains a lararium, which was often only found in homes of Pompeii. Although other houses have been found that have also been used as shops, this is the first thermopolium that still has a perfectly intact lararium on the wall, with the original colours still in place and the artwork still in good condition. Most often, the fronts of houses that were used as shops were only used for workshops and clothing shops, while taverns and thermopolium were either separate entities or on the roadside. The perfect condition of the lararium is something that is not found of other household shrines throughout Pompeii, and we can see that the original colours, so important to the Fourth Style of wall painting, are still as vibrant as they were before the eruption of Pompeii. As most of the thermopolium were freestanding structures, not connected to a house like this one is, we can see the original textures on the wall. Although they have started to deteriorate due to being excavated, the plaster cast placed over the walls has shown that the walls were covered in bronze studs for decoration, which also suggests to this particular thermopolium being slightly more upper class than others. This can give us an idea of what materials were used when constructing shops, which was usually marble. When other shops along the streets have been excavated, the walls have all deteriorated and there is nothing left inside to determine what shops they were before Vesuvius erupted. This is why this thermopolium is so unique - for not only is the structure still intact so that we can identify what type of shop it is, but the lararium in perfect condition also reinforces that homes doubled as shops.
While there are other thermopolium in Pompeii and Herculaneum that show the modern world where plebeians ate and drank when they went out, this thermopolium is unique as it also contains a lararium, which was often only found in homes of Pompeii. Although other houses have been found that have also been used as shops, this is the first thermopolium that still has a perfectly intact lararium on the wall, with the original colours still in place and the artwork still in good condition. Most often, the fronts of houses that were used as shops were only used for workshops and clothing shops, while taverns and thermopolium were either separate entities or on the roadside. The perfect condition of the lararium is something that is not found of other household shrines throughout Pompeii, and we can see that the original colours, so important to the Fourth Style of wall painting, are still as vibrant as they were before the eruption of Pompeii. As most of the thermopolium were freestanding structures, not connected to a house like this one is, we can see the original textures on the wall. Although they have started to deteriorate due to being excavated, the plaster cast placed over the walls has shown that the walls were covered in bronze studs for decoration, which also suggests to this particular thermopolium being slightly more upper class than others. This can give us an idea of what materials were used when constructing shops, which was usually marble. When other shops along the streets have been excavated, the walls have all deteriorated and there is nothing left inside to determine what shops they were before Vesuvius erupted. This is why this thermopolium is so unique - for not only is the structure still intact so that we can identify what type of shop it is, but the lararium in perfect condition also reinforces that homes doubled as shops.