Pompeii and herculaneum ancient history PDF

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Assess the value and limitations of frescoes for investigating food and dining in Pompeii and Herculaneum. Support your response with reference to Source A. (6 marks) In the ancient towns of Vesuvius, food and dining was a significant part of their everyday life. With the understanding of Source A the “sale of the bread fresco” from the House of Julia Felix, one is able to conclude that bread was a common food, formed into round shapes with 8 segments. Food is also showcased through another fresco from the House of Julia Felix which depicted quinces, pomegranates, apples and grapes in the bowl, and a pair of figs on the counter. To the right, an amphora of wine leans against a clay jar of prunes. Moreover a fresco in the House of the Deer in Herculaneum showcases a vast selection of food such as birds, pig, fish, bread and wine. On the other hand, these frescoes do have their limitations as they do not indicate how the people in Pompeii and Herculaneum, would dine. An aspect of dining was conveyed through the fresco of Banqueting scene in the House of the Triclinium. This was a representation of where the people would gather to dine with the family as well as where they would host their guests. The fresco depicts the people reclining on the three couches ideally seen in a triculium as they are attended to by their slaves. However, the majority of people did not have internal dining rooms, or culina so would purchase their food at thermopolia. In the recently excavated thermopolium in Regio V the painting on the counter portrayed an image of a thermopolium. This would indicate the utilization of the amphoras and the distribution of a variety of foods which would convey the different types of food and the dining experience for the different levels of social class. Although the fresco does not give a full insight as they have limited detail about the type of foods available to the different social classes, they did not portray the macellum and did not depict what food was sold at the thermopolium. Subsequently frescoes in Pompeii and Herculaneum have detailed what people would eat as well as their dining experience....