ArchaeÂolÂoÂgists digÂging in PomÂpeii have unearthed a fresÂco conÂtainÂing what may be a “disÂtant ancesÂtor” of the modÂern pizÂza. The fresÂco feaÂtures a platÂter with wine, fruit, and a piece of flat focacÂcia. AccordÂing to PomÂpeii archaeÂolÂoÂgists, the focacÂcia doesÂn’t have tomaÂtoes and mozÂzarelÂla on top. Rather, it seemÂingÂly sports “pomeÂgranÂate,” spices, perÂhaps a type of pesto, and “posÂsiÂbly condiments”–which is just a short hop, skip and a jump away to pizÂza.
Found in the atriÂum of a house conÂnectÂed to a bakÂery, the fineÂly-detailed fresÂco grew out of a Greek traÂdiÂtion (called xenia) where gifts of hosÂpiÂtalÂiÂty, includÂing food, are offered to visÂiÂtors. NatÂuÂralÂly, the fresÂco was entombed (and preÂserved) for cenÂturies by the erupÂtion of Mt. VesuÂvius in 79 A.D.
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RelatÂed ConÂtent
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