Not a Pizza: Pompeii Wall Painting Depicts a Different Culinary Delight

Recently uncovered in the archaeological site of Pompeii, a still-life fresco has caught attention for its resemblance to a pizza. However, experts at the site have clarified that it is not the iconic Italian dish due to the absence of key ingredients, namely tomatoes and mozzarella, which were unavailable when the fresco was painted approximately 2,000 years ago.

Tomatoes were introduced to Europe from the Americas only a few centuries ago, and historical accounts suggest that the discovery of mozzarella directly contributed to the creation of pizza in nearby Naples during the 1700s.

Instead, the image is believed to depict a focaccia adorned with fruits such as pomegranate and possibly dates, finished off with spices or a type of pesto. The fresco portrays the dish served on a silver plate, accompanied by a wine chalice.

The contrast between the modest meal and the luxurious setting, symbolized by the silver tray, bears resemblance to modern-day pizza. Originally born as a dish for the economically disadvantaged in southern Italy, pizza has transcended boundaries and gained worldwide popularity, even gracing the menus of Michelin-starred restaurants. Gabriel Zuchtriegel, director of the Pompeii archaeological site, noted this parallel.

Pompeii, the ancient Roman city, was decimated by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. The cataclysmic event preserved much of the city’s structure in volcanic ash, making it a significant archaeological project and tourist attraction today.

Upon the discovery of the fresco, the Coldiretti agricultural lobby swiftly seized the opportunity to promote pizza as a national treasure. Originally devised as a quick meal for the working class, pizza now accounts for one-third of the food budget of foreign visitors and generates an annual revenue of 15 billion euros ($16.4 billion) in Italy.

In 2017, the art of Neapolitan pizzamaking was included in UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list, recognizing its meticulous four-phase dough preparation and its exclusive baking in a wood oven at a scorching temperature of 485 degrees Celsius (905 degrees Fahrenheit).

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More about Pompeii fresco

• Pompeii Archaeological Site
• History of Pizza
• UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
• Mount Vesuvius
• Italian Cuisine