In a city frozen in time by volcanic ash, archaeologists are still uncovering surprises that link ancient life to our own. One of the most talked-about recent discoveries in Pompeii is a beautifully preserved fresco that appears to depict a food strikingly similar to modern pizza.
Unearthed in Regio IX, a previously unexplored section of the ancient city, the fresco shows a flat, round piece of bread topped with what appear to be garnishes—perhaps fruit, spices, or cheese—arranged in a way that invites comparison to one of the most iconic foods of our time. The image went viral when Italian officials suggested it may resemble an early version of pizza, sparking public fascination with the culinary connections between past and present.
Was It Really Pizza?
Historically speaking, no—at least not by modern standards. The image lacks two of pizza’s most defining ingredients: tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Tomatoes didn’t arrive in Europe until centuries after the fall of Rome, and mozzarella, as we know it, also came much later. But the resemblance is enough to spark the imagination.
What the fresco likely depicts is a kind of focaccia or flatbread, common in Roman cuisine, and often topped with herbs, honey, olives, dates, or cheese. These kinds of “breads with things on top” were everyday fare in ancient Roman households and taverns.
Daily life in Pompeii
While ancient Pompeii is famous for its grand villas, temples, and tragic destruction, finds like this fresco remind us that it was also a living city full of ordinary people eating ordinary meals. This simple depiction of food—shared in homes, marketplaces, and street-side stalls—makes the ancient world feel close, even familiar.
For students of Latin and classical studies, discoveries like this breathe life into the texts and lessons. What we translate in the classroom—lines about dinners, bakeries, and Roman kitchens—suddenly has a visual, human connection. It’s not just an old language or a distant culture. It’s a culture that cooked, ate, laughed, and maybe even debated whether honey or fish sauce made the better topping.
Why It Matters
In an age of rapid technological change, the fresco reminds us of the continuity of daily life. Bread, meals, and community: the stuff of ancient Pompeii still speaks to the rhythm of our own lives. In fact, Pompeii has many thermopolia, what you could almost think of as the equivalent of ancient fast food.
At Seven Hills Online Classical, we use discoveries like this to deepen our students’ engagement with the classical world—not as a museum piece, but as a vivid, lived culture that still echoes today.