The Romans had a version of fast-food restaurants.

World History

R ecent excavations of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii reveal that some aspects of society haven't changed much during the last 2,000 years, including our eating habits. The Romans also had what were essentially fast-food restaurants. Known as thermopolia (or singularly as a thermopolium), these establishments sold a variety of ready-to-eat hot food. They were essential to daily life in ancient Rome, because not all citizens had kitchens. In the region around Pompeii, only around 40% of low-income households and 66% of middle-class households had a kitchen at home. Those who didn't typically lived in insulae (apartment buildings) and relied on thermopolia for many of their meals.

Thermopolia were low-cost food joints, offering a selection of meats (such as chicken, pork, duck, goat, and snails), cheeses, fish, bread, and legumes, washed down with calida (a type of mulled wine) — there were no burgers or fries here. The food was held in dolia (large terracotta pots) on buffet-style counters. The more upscale restaurants had frescoes adorning the walls, depicting food that was eaten there (such as ducks or chickens) or deities (such as Mercury, the god of commerce, and Bacchus, the god of wine). Thermopolia weren't without controversy, however. Roman Emperor Claudius once tried to have them shut down because of their poor reputation. Criminals, thieves, and other dishonorable members of society often gathered and drank wine at thermopolia, earning the establishments a bad rap.

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By the Numbers

Approximate number of thermopolia unearthed at Pompeii

Approximate number of fast-food restaurants in the U.S. today

198,000

Did you know?

Ancient Romans put cabbage juice in their ears for healing purposes.

Cabbage was considered a miracle drug in ancient Rome. Statesman Cato the Elder championed the leafy crop in his work "De Agri Cultura," in which he wrote extensively about farming, agriculture, and cabbage, proclaiming that its medicinal value "surpasses all other vegetables." Cato dedicated an entire section to cabbage, and one of his most outlandish claims was that it could reduce hearing loss or treat deafness. He explained, "In case of deafness, macerate cabbage with wine, press out the juice, and instil warm water into the ear, and you will soon know that your hearing is improved." Although cabbage is rich in vitamins and minerals, it is doubtful that it improved anyone's hearing. Cato also outlined many other questionable cabbage remedies, asserting that it could heal all sores without pain and cure a swollen spleen, a painful heart, and "all the internal organs which are suffering."

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