GARUM WORKSHOP - POMPEII

‘Garum’ was the name of a fish sauce which was a favourite throughout Pompeii and was prepared and sold in this small house on Via dell’Abbondanza. As a residues found in six sealed containers in the courtyard have not been yet analysed, it has so far been impossible to establish whether the garum produced here was the high quality type (garum excellens or garum flos flos) or some poorer variety. A large number of empty amphorae were stored in the back garden; they have just been cleaned and were ready to be filled by means of a funnel which was also found in the workshop. This is evidence that the garum from Pompeii was exported to many places throughout the Roman Empire. The name of the manufacturer, A. Umbricius Scaurus was painted on these vessels. Thank to the commercial success of this product especially in Rome, A. Umbricius Scaurus was able to embark on a political career which culminated in the office of duumvir during the reign of the Emperor Nero.

 

Why do not you arrange with us an amazing day in the Gulf of Naples - a private tour (just for you) with a comfortable limousine or minivan with driver and an English-speaking tour guide? We have organized for you a great guided tour to Naples-Pompeii-Sorrento-Amalfi Coast (Positano). Contact us by e-mail info@pompeii.org.uk for further info.

This is one of the so-called ‘town villas’ which was built on more than one level (possibly four) against the town walls in the last period of the town’s life. The villa had a fine view over the Gulf of Naples and its interior was entirely decorated in the Pompeian fourth style. The villa itself is the result of the fusion of a number of previously built houses and so, in a tiny room in the central apsidal structure, we can find the remains of second style frescoes, including what appears to be a portrait of the Venus of Pompeii. The side walls in the same area are also decorated with stars and small moon designs, suggesting that the room may have been used for astr ... continue

(Apic. 4, 5, 4) Ingredients:

• 1 kg firm ripe apricots or nectarines
• 200 ml white wine
• 250 ml Passum
• peppermint tea bag (portion for one cup)
• ground pepper
• Liquamen or salt
• cornstarch
• a little bit of vinegar
• honey

Instructions:
-------------
Wash, cut and stone apricots. Put them with a little cold water in a pan. Pulverize ground pepper and dried mint (that's where the tea bag comes handy), add Liquamen or salt, honey, Passum, wine and vinegar. Pour into the pan with a little oil. Cook approximately 20 minu ... continue

Love was a common topic of conversation in Pompeii. Feelings, passions, poetic love, sex, homosexuality, prostitution and so forth were all part of daily life and not a source of prejudice. The concept of “obscenity” seems to have been unknown. Love and sex were considered earthly practices of a man’s life that were encouraged by the benevolence of Venus. The thousands of examples of graffiti found on the town’s walls are unequivocal proof of what the people of Pompeii thought about love and sex.