Volcano eruption

In 79 AD, a baker in Pompeii pulled his last batch of bread from the oven. Minutes later, Mount Vesuvius erupted, preserving these loaves for 2,000 years under volcanic ash. The bread, known as Panis Quadratus, was found with the baker's quality stamp still visible - ancient Rome's version of a brand logo. 🍞

These weren't just ordinary loaves. They were scored into eight wedges, garnished with poppy seeds, fennel, and parsley. Near the bakery, archaeologists discovered a portrait of the baker Terentius Neo and his wife - she's shown holding writing materials, suggesting she was an equal partner in their business. 📚

The volcanic disaster that claimed their lives created a perfect time capsule. The intense heat carbonized the bread, preserving its shape and texture exactly as it was that fateful morning. Today, these loaves sit in Italy's National Archaeological Museum, telling the story of everyday life in ancient Rome. 🏺

Sources: Naples Archaeological Museum, Archaeological Park of Pompeii, Culinary Archaeology Studies by Farrell Monaco
#Pompeii #AncientRome #CulinaryHistory