A recent discovery at the Pompeii archaeological site has sparked a debate among pizza lovers. A 2,000-year-old fresco painting was uncovered, depicting what appears to be a round, bready dish with toppings, resembling a pizza. However, experts argue that the painting actually represents a precursor to pizza, known as focaccia bread.
The painting, found in the atrium of a house connected to a bakery, shows the dish sitting next to a wine chalice and a variety of fruits and flowers, all arranged on a silver platter. While the doughy disk does resemble a pizza crust, researchers believe that the lack of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, two essential ingredients in modern pizza, suggests that it is not a true pizza.
Tomatoes did not arrive in Europe from the Americas until the 16th century, and mozzarella cheese was not commonly used in pizza until the 18th century. Instead, the painting likely represents mensa, a flatbread that served as both food and a plate during Roman times. It would have been topped with fruits like pomegranates and dates, as well as spices and condiments.
The discovery has sparked interest in the history of pizza and its evolution over time. Pizza, originally considered a “poor” dish in southern Italy, has now become a global phenomenon, served in Michelin star restaurants. The contrast between the humble origins of pizza and its current popularity is reminiscent of the juxtaposition seen in the painting, where a lower-class meal is served on fine silver dining ware.
While this discovery sheds light on the early precursors to pizza, there is still much to explore in Pompeii. The city, which was buried in ash after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79, offers a unique opportunity for researchers to study ancient Roman life. With only two-thirds of the city excavated and studied so far, there are likely more exciting discoveries awaiting those who continue to explore Pompeii.
In the meantime, pineapple pizza haters may take solace in the fact that the first pizza precursors were likely topped with fruit, providing a historical basis for their distaste.
What evidence supports the argument that the painting represents “focaccia bread” rather than pizza, and what does this reveal about the culinary history of the dish
A groundbreaking discovery at the Pompeii archaeological site has ignited a fiery debate among pizza enthusiasts. Unearthed from the ancient ruins was an astonishing fresco painting dating back 2,000 years, portraying what appears to be a circular, breaded delicacy adorned with delectable toppings, bearing a striking resemblance to the beloved pizza. However, experts contest this notion, arguing that the painting actually showcases something called “focaccia bread,” a precursor to the modern-day pizza.
The captivating artwork was found in the atrium of a house intimately linked to a bakery. Intriguingly, the masterpiece exhibits the dish resting graciously beside a wine goblet, as well as an array of fruits and flowers, sumptuously arranged upon a shimmering silver platter. Though the doughy disk undeniably resembles a pizza crust, researchers assert that the absence of tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, both pivotal ingredients in contemporary pizza, signifies that it is not an authentic representation of the famed dish.
Historically, tomatoes only made their way to Europe from the Americas in the 16th century, and it wasn’t until the 18th century that mozzarella cheese became a staple in pizza-making. Instead, the mural most likely portrays mensa, a flatbread widely consumed during Roman times, serving as both sustenance and a serving vessel. It would have been adorned with luscious fruits like pomegranates and dates, accompanied by an assortment of aromatic spices and condiments.
Undeniably, this discovery has ignited an insatiable intrigue into the captivating evolution of pizza throughout the ages. Originating as a “humble” fare in southern Italy, pizza has undoubtedly evolved into a global culinary phenomenon, gracing the tables of Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide. The mesmerizing contrast between pizza’s humble beginnings and its current prestige evokes a profound parallel with the captivating artwork, where an ordinary, affordable meal is presented on exquisite silver dinnerware.
While this revelation shines a radiant light on pizza’s early precursors, there is still an abundant wealth of knowledge to be unraveled in Pompeii. Having been buried beneath layers of volcanic ash following Mount Vesuvius’s catastrophic eruption in AD 79, the city offers a mesmerizing window into ancient Roman life. With only two-thirds of the city excavated and analyzed thus far, it is highly likely that countless other mesmerizing discoveries lie awaiting intrepid explorers who dare to delve deeper into the mysteries of Pompeii.
In the interim, those who bear unwavering disdain for pineapple on their pizzas may discover solace in the fact that the earliest progenitors of pizza were often embellished with mouthwatering fruits, providing a historical foundation for their scrupulous taste buds.
