Thermopolia and Tabernae www.misterconnor.org

Etymology A thermopolium (plural thermopolia), from Greek θερμοπώλιον (thermopōlion), i.e. cook-shop. Literally "a place where (something) hot is sold“. A taberna (plural tabernae) was a single room shop covered by a vault within great indoor markets.

The lay-out They consist of terracotta containers (dolia) sunk into a masonry counter (sometimes covered with polychrome marble) that are believed to have contained hot food that was sold to customers. Some thermopolia have decorated back rooms, which may have functioned as dining-rooms.

Roaring Trade In one thermopolium, the remains of a cloth bag were discovered in one of the dolia, along with over a thousand coins These are thought to be the day's takings and demonstrate the popularity of the establishment. Lararia (domestic shrines) are a fairly common feature of thermopolia, and sometimes depict Mercury and Dionysus, the gods of commerce and wine respectively. These cafes were necessary, especially for the poor who did not have facilities to cook at home.

The Thermopolium of Vetutius Placidus. This thermopolium opens onto via dell’Abbondanza and shows the social mobility in Pompeii in Roman times. In the early empire, high status was restricted to land-owners and aristocrats. Later, commerce was a way of achieving wealth and, thereby, status for freedmen. The house is at the rear, interconnected with the shop, decorated with precious frescoes and a triclinium for outdoor dining.

The Skinny Fast food shops which employed many people. Abundant at Pompeii because the poor did not have cooking facilities at home; they probably ate at thermopolia during the day. Often beautifully decorated. A public meeting place. Clearly lucrative and used by many citizens. Evidence of social mobility. A chance for freedmen to establish themselves. Distinction between earlier and later empire.

Sources http://pompeiisites.org/allegati/A%20Guide%20to%20the%20Pom peii%20Excavations.pdf http://www.fastionline.org/docs/FOLDER-it-2009-159.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermopolium