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Thermopolium VI.8.8 is one of the many establishments in Pompeii that sold ready-to-eat food and drink. Approximately ninety thermopolia have been identified in the excavated area of the city, illustrating how widespread this kind of business was.
Such premises were especially important to craftspeople, traders and residents of smaller houses, whose limited space often did not include a proper kitchen. The large masonry counter allowed food to be prepared and served to customers quickly.
The thermopolium therefore offers a tangible picture of everyday Pompeian life and helps explain a less monumental but fundamental aspect of the city’s social organisation: eating away from home was widespread, particularly among the less affluent sections of the population.
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