15 October 2025 The Future is the Product of the Past

This summer, a 2,000-year-old “thermopolium” fast-food restaurant in Pompeii will reopen to the public

Archaeologists excavated a 2000-year-old fast food and drink counter “termopolium” on the streets of the ancient Roman city of Pompeii last year, which will be open to the public this summer.

The thermopolium – from the Greek “thermos” meaning hot and “poleo” for sale – was the Roman era version of a fast-food snack stand, located at a bustling junction of Silver Wedding Street and Alley of Balconies.

In earthenware pots, the researchers discovered duck bone pieces as well as the bones of pigs, goats, fish, and snails. Some of the components had been cooked together in the style of a Roman paella. Crushed fava beans, which are used to alter the flavor of wine, were discovered in the bottom of one jar.

In Roman times, the Thermopolium was highly popular. Around 80 were found in Pompeii alone. The counter, which is adorned with vividly colored frescos and deep circular slots that would have held jars, is the first of 80 food bars discovered in perfect condition.

When the volcano on neighboring Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, it buried Pompeii in a sea of boiling lava, killing between 2,000 and 15,000 people. Archaeologists continue to make discoveries there.



📣 Our WhatsApp channel is now LIVE! Stay up-to-date with the latest news and updates, just click here to follow us on WhatsApp and never miss a thing!!



The massive site, which spans 44 hectares (110 acres), is all that remains of one of the Roman empire’s wealthiest towns. Many structures and items, including curled-up bodies of victims, were buried under layers of ash in an almost pristine form.

The “thermopolium,” is slated to open on August 12.

Cover Photo: An ancient counter depicting a nymph riding a horse. Luigi Spina/Parco Archeologico di Pompei via AP

Related Articles

Between Shamans, Gods and Spirits: A Journey into Bulgaria’s Mysterious Central Asian Origins

2 July 2025

2 July 2025

Long before modern borders were drawn, ancient spiritual traditions — led by shamans and rooted in communion with the unseen...

Archaeologists discover 1200-year-old Wari temple complex in Peru

24 February 2023

24 February 2023

Archaeologists from the University of Illinois Chicago have uncovered a temple complex constructed by the Wari Empire 1,200 years ago...

China exhibits 2,000-year-old artifacts discovered in Guangzhou

12 August 2021

12 August 2021

On August 10, the National Museum of China launched an exhibition featuring archaeological finds from ancient China’s Qin (221–207 BC)...

Ghost Fleet of the Iron Age: Three Ancient Shipwrecks Rewrite the Story of Mediterranean Seafaring

8 October 2025

8 October 2025

The discovery of three ancient shipwrecks in the Dor Lagoon reveals how Iron Age sailors reconnected the Mediterranean world after...

Forged 5,000 Years Ago: The World’s Oldest Swords Discovered at Arslantepe Mound, Türkiye

10 June 2025

10 June 2025

In the arid plains of Eastern Anatolia, nestled along the western bank of the Euphrates River near Malatya, Turkey, lies...

4,400 Years Old Shaman Snake Staff Found in Finland

29 June 2021

29 June 2021

A very well-preserved 4,400-year-old Shaman Snake Staff made of wood has been found in Finland. The “Snake Staff” found is...

New Study reveals how England’s ‘White Queen’ worshipped a disembowelled saint at the Chapel of St Erasmus

5 December 2022

5 December 2022

A new study reveals the story of how England’s “White Queen”, Elizabeth Woodville, wife of Edward IV, once worshipped at...

A Roman statue unearthed on the site of St Polyeuctus’ church, which once Constantinople’s largest church

5 April 2023

5 April 2023

At Saraçhane Archaeology Park, where the Church of St. Polyeuctus is situated, excavation work by Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) teams...

“Mosaic of the Wine Harvest” mosaic to be exhibited in November in Turkey’s Hatay

26 October 2021

26 October 2021

The mosaic depicting the grape harvest, which is considered to date from the Late Roman period, equivalent to the 5th...

Archaeologists have found a mysterious prehistoric site, believed to be a 6,500-year-old Stone Age cemetery, near the Arctic Circle

4 December 2023

4 December 2023

Archaeologists have found a mysterious prehistoric site believed to be a 6,500-year-old Stone Age cemetery just 50 miles (80 kilometers)...

The “Horoscope” Scroll Found In the Judean Desert: A Glimpse Into the Mysterious Sect

26 March 2024

26 March 2024

One of the most interesting and mysterious scrolls discovered in the Judean Desert is a scroll called the “Horoscope.” This...

A mosaic made by the freed slave to thank God was found in the church excavation

10 January 2022

10 January 2022

During the season excavation of the 6th-century Holy Apostles Church, located in an orange grove in the Arsuz district of...

New Discoveries of Sanxingdui Ancient City to be Announced

19 March 2021

19 March 2021

Sanxingdui, which literally means “Stacks of Three Stars”, is a cultural relic of the Kingdom of Shu in ancient China....

Ancient settlements that challenge traditional thinking “Karahantepe and Taş Tepeler”

5 December 2021

5 December 2021

After Göbeklitepe in Şanlıurfa, which sheds light on 12,000 years ago in human history and is considered one of the...

Earthquakes caused slight damage to Hatay Archeology Museum

10 February 2023

10 February 2023

The Republic of Turkey Ministry of Culture and Tourism issued a press release on the latest status of museums and...