Food and Dining Workshops

Other Industries and Entertainment

Shops located in Pompeii ran from the Forum, past the amphitheatre to the Sarnian Gate.

Shopkeepers usually had living quarters in the form of a back room or “mezzanine” to reside in at

the end of the day.

Shops were advertised through painted trade signs or wall paintings. It was also used for

political propaganda with political slogans being advertised as a way to attract customers and

votes. Graffiti was also written as a way for customers to pay their respects or make complaints.

Bakeries were very popular among

citizens of Pompeii and Herculaneum.

It would generally feature lava stone

mills, used for refining the grain,

a table for kneading dough and a

brick oven.

Remains of carbonised bread has

been found.

A famous bakery in Pompeii was the

Bakery of Modestus.

Snack bars, or thermopolia were very

popular in both Pompeii and Herculaneum.

Over 200 has been found in Pompeii.

Dolia held hot food and drink,

and the dishes could be eaten sitting

down or standing up.

One of the largest diners found in

Herculaneum, was located directly

across the Palastra to attract service.

Bars and taverns were scattered

throughout both towns but were most

often positioned around the amphitheatre

in Pompeii. Bars and taverns could

be used for both rest and recreation,

business and sexual encounters.

Graffiti was also used to pay respect,

make requests and was often used as

political propaganda.

Wine shops were seen quite often

throughout Pompeii as the citizens

were very heavy drinkers.

Wine was stored in jars, and was made

with various types of grapes and olives.

A variety of wine was sold in both

Herculaneum and Pompeii but

citizens used to like to add other

ingredients to add flavour.

Workshops were also very popular in both cities as there was a high demand for furniture makers and woodworkers for both public an private decorations and furnishings. There was also a range of other occupations uncovered including bronze smiths, glass workers, marble workers and potters.

Pottery stores were very popular especially in the houses that favoured extravagant decorations and furnishing. Unfortunately many of the shops were destroyed in the volcanic eruption, but many pots have been excavated. Pottery was also sold both in stores and among street vendors with the more accomplished stores selling more then one type of product.

When archaeologists began digging through

the remans of Pompeii, they would find

layers of marble in the wealthy homes,

and various marble decorations.

These were produced by marble

workers who made reliefs to

represent the history of the buildings.

This also provided the owner with a

sense of pride in their wealth and culture.

A fullery was a laundry where items

of clothing were cleaned bleached

and dyed.

Frescoes showed many of the

procedures that took place and water

was supplied by the town aqueduct.

Various tanks and basins were

used and a carbonised wooden clothes press

has been excavated at Herculaneum.

Dyers coloured cloth with a variety of vegetable dyes.

Shops in Pompeii and Herculaneum also provided a healthy commercial life for its citizens. Archeologists have been able to identify a variety of occupations including dyers, innkeepers, prostitutes and shoemakers

The cities of Pompeii were continuously

filled with shops and street vendors among

the streets, meaning there was often

entertainment, citizens played music

and put on performances using masks.

Shopkeepers also used a particular

good performance to draw attention

to their store and attracted customers

by appealing to their political opinions.

Hotels provided tradesman with a place

to rest for the night. The two hotels in

Herculaneum provided basic

services for the citizens including,

a dining room, stables, and a garage

for wagons.

There was also a hotel near the Forum

in Pompeii that accommodated

for fifty people , four to a room.

However the most famous hotel was the

Hostel of the Muses for its extravagant

decorations and services.

The Lupanare was the official brothel in

Pompeii and was visited every day,

especially by tradesman from out of town .

There was many others in town (about 25 in all)

that would have been located above the bars

and taverns. The Lupanare was located near the

Forum ad graffiti was often engraved over the

walls so customers could express their opinions

on the service that was provided.