Sea Urchin and Giraffe on the Menu for Wealthy Citizens of Pompeii
- 10 years ago
According to the latest evidence uncovered by scientists studying the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, the wealthier elite citizens ate an unusual diet that included sea urchins, giraffe, and flamingo meat.
According to the latest evidence uncovered by scientists studying the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, the wealthier elite citizens ate an unusual diet that included sea urchins, giraffe, and flamingo meat.
The Roman city of Pompeii was left remarkably preserved after the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius covered everything in ash during the year 79 A.D.
Food scraps that were found in the drains of a section of the city’s restaurants in a standard class area show that the average Pompeii resident ate healthy and readily available food, like grains, lentils, olives, nuts and fish, while wealthier citizens consumed rare delicacies.
Steven Ellis, co-author of the study and classics professor from the University of Cincinnati is quoted as saying: “The material from the drains revealed a range and quantity of materials to suggest a rather clear socioeconomic distinction between the activities and consumption habits of each property, which were otherwise indistinguishable hospitality businesses.”
The range of spices found in Pompeii includes evidence of imports from as far away as Indonesia.
A giraffe leg bone that was found is reportedly the only giraffe remains recovered from an ancient Roman archaeological site.
According to the latest evidence uncovered by scientists studying the ancient city of Pompeii, Italy, the wealthier elite citizens ate an unusual diet that included sea urchins, giraffe, and flamingo meat.
The Roman city of Pompeii was left remarkably preserved after the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius covered everything in ash during the year 79 A.D.
Food scraps that were found in the drains of a section of the city’s restaurants in a standard class area show that the average Pompeii resident ate healthy and readily available food, like grains, lentils, olives, nuts and fish, while wealthier citizens consumed rare delicacies.
Steven Ellis, co-author of the study and classics professor from the University of Cincinnati is quoted as saying: “The material from the drains revealed a range and quantity of materials to suggest a rather clear socioeconomic distinction between the activities and consumption habits of each property, which were otherwise indistinguishable hospitality businesses.”
The range of spices found in Pompeii includes evidence of imports from as far away as Indonesia.
A giraffe leg bone that was found is reportedly the only giraffe remains recovered from an ancient Roman archaeological site.