ENABLE FULL-SCREEN
Won't be long
Landscape mode required
ENABLE SOUND
Figs found in Pompeii are displayed in the exhibition.
LowPliny notes that the figs from nearby Herculaneum as being particularly good.
Other sources of figs: Pliny mentions the “luxury fig” from Alexandria in Egypt but rates the figs of Ibiza in the Balearic Islands as the best.
At Ruspina in the Roman province of Africa he records that they are so abundant that dried figs are used instead of bread.
Pliny notes that the figs from nearby Herculaneum as being particularly good.
Other sources of figs: Pliny mentions the “luxury fig” from Alexandria in Egypt but rates the figs of Ibiza in the Balearic Islands as the best.
At Ruspina in the Roman province of Africa he records that they are so abundant that dried figs are used instead of bread.
Figs found in Pompeii are displayed in the exhibition.
LowFigs increase the strength of youth; to age they give improved health and fewer wrinkles ... They are flesh-forming and strengthening and therefore the earlier athletes used them as a staple food. It was the trainer Pythagoras who was the first to change their diet of figs for one of meat
- Pliny the Elder, Natural History Book Book XXIII 120-122
On display in the exhibition is an amphora from Mauretania found at Pompeii which most likely contained their version of garum.
HighGarum is a sauce made from the intestines and blood of fish fermented in salt. The clear fluid that forms, described by Pliny as exquisite, was bottled in amphorae. This sauce was most likely added by the diner when eating. Liquamen is made the same way but using whole fish. The Roman gourmand Apicius used it in his recipes instead of salt.
The fish came from the Bay of Naples and the salt from the salt pans of the Sarno, a river near Pompeii. Pliny rated Pompeii’s garum highly against those of other places in the empire. Buyers could expect to pay a lot of money for it.
We know one of the producers in Pompeii – Aulus Umbricius Scaurus. With the profits from garum and liquamen he built a huge house featuring mosaics celebrating his wares.
Scaurus advertised his wares (some of which were imported from Spain) as Best Fish Sauce, Premium Best Fish Sauce and Absolutely Best Fish Sauce. He also had a line of pure mackerel fish sauce and kosher garum for the region’s Jewish population.
Garum is a sauce made from the intestines and blood of fish fermented in salt. The clear fluid that forms, described by Pliny as exquisite, was bottled in amphorae. This sauce was most likely added by the diner when eating. Liquamen is made the same way but using whole fish. The Roman gourmand Apicius used it in his recipes instead of salt.
The fish came from the Bay of Naples and the salt from the salt pans of the Sarno, a river near Pompeii. Pliny rated Pompeii’s garum highly against those of other places in the empire. Buyers could expect to pay a lot of money for it.
We know one of the producers in Pompeii – Aulus Umbricius Scaurus. With the profits from garum and liquamen he built a huge house featuring mosaics celebrating his wares.
Scaurus advertised his wares (some of which were imported from Spain) as Best Fish Sauce, Premium Best Fish Sauce and Absolutely Best Fish Sauce. He also had a line of pure mackerel fish sauce and kosher garum for the region’s Jewish population.
On display in the exhibition is an amphora from Mauretania found at Pompeii which most likely contained their version of garum.
High"...there is hardly any liquid, with the exception of perfumes, that has sold at higher prices of late."
A Campanian wine amphora found at Pompeii is on display.
MediumPompeii was in a wine producing area and exported its wine. The wine produced around Pompeii has been identified from the must found on ancient Roman wine vats buried in during eruption as Lacryma Christi which is still made on the slopes of Vesuvius.
The amphorae containing the wine were marked with the name of the wine producer, so we know that Pompeiian wine was exported to southern France, Spain, Carthage in Africa and other parts of Italy.
The most famous wine in the Roman world was Falerian, produced about 80km north of Pompeii, posh Pompeiians would have drunk it as well as the local plonk.
Pompeii was in a wine producing area and exported its wine. The wine produced around Pompeii has been identified from the must found on ancient Roman wine vats buried in during eruption as Lacryma Christi which is still made on the slopes of Vesuvius.
The amphorae containing the wine were marked with the name of the wine producer, so we know that Pompeiian wine was exported to southern France, Spain, Carthage in Africa and other parts of Italy.
The most famous wine in the Roman world was Falerian, produced about 80km north of Pompeii, posh Pompeiians would have drunk it as well as the local plonk.
A Campanian wine amphora found at Pompeii is on display.
MediumWines from Pompeii are at their best within ten years and gain nothing with maturity. They are observed to be injurious because of the hangover they cause, which persists until noon on the following day.
- Pliny the Elder, Natural History Book XIV 70
An amphora on display most likely contained sweet raisin wine from Crete.
MediumPliny says that the raisin wine from Crete was the most highly esteemed in Italy and the provinces followed by that of that of Cilicia (south eastern Turkey opposite Cyprus) and Africa.
Made by grapes left to dry in the sun. Pliny relates that second quality raisin wine is made by using the pulp from the first press, then adding well water. Best quality raisin wine is made by steeping the dried grapes in good quality wine until they re-hydrate, then they are pressed.
Health: Raisin wine is an essential ingredient in Pliny’s cure all:
Dosage: one snail pounded in its shell added to three measures of raisin wine. Warmed and given as a drink over five days:
One dose on the first day, two on the next, three on the third, two on the fourth and one of the fifth day. Do not exceed nine days.
He recommends it be given for: Asthma, Abscesses, Fainting, Aberration of the mind, Vertigo and Looseness of the bowels (also cured by burnt snails in dry wine).
Pliny says that the raisin wine from Crete was the most highly esteemed in Italy and the provinces followed by that of that of Cilicia (south eastern Turkey opposite Cyprus) and Africa.
Made by grapes left to dry in the sun. Pliny relates that second quality raisin wine is made by using the pulp from the first press, then adding well water. Best quality raisin wine is made by steeping the dried grapes in good quality wine until they re-hydrate, then they are pressed.
Health: Raisin wine is an essential ingredient in Pliny’s cure all:
Dosage: one snail pounded in its shell added to three measures of raisin wine. Warmed and given as a drink over five days:
One dose on the first day, two on the next, three on the third, two on the fourth and one of the fifth day. Do not exceed nine days.
He recommends it be given for: Asthma, Abscesses, Fainting, Aberration of the mind, Vertigo and Looseness of the bowels (also cured by burnt snails in dry wine).
An amphora on display most likely contained sweet raisin wine from Crete.
MediumRaisin wine is an essential ingredient in Pliny’s cure all. One snail pounded in its shell added to three measures of raisin wine. Warmed and given as a drink over five days.
Cinnabar was used to outline the lettering on a funerary stele on display.
MediumCinnabar – mercury sulphide – was one of the only sources of red pigment in the ancient world. So high was the demand that the price was fixed – so medium value.
Pliny says that almost all of the Roman Empire’s supply comes from Spain. The main mine in southern Spain belonged to the Roman people, its revenues going to the treasury.
He continues about the safety precautions and the uses of cinnabar:
"Those who polish cinnabar in workshops tie loose masks made of bladder-skin over their faces to prevent inhalation of dust as they breathe; the dust is a very serious health hazard ... Cinnabar is used for lettering in books and it makes more colourful lettering for inscriptions on walls, marble or even tombs.’ [Natural History, Book XXXIII 122]"
Cinnabar – mercury sulphide – was one of the only sources of red pigment in the ancient world. So high was the demand that the price was fixed – so medium value.
Pliny says that almost all of the Roman Empire’s supply comes from Spain. The main mine in southern Spain belonged to the Roman people, its revenues going to the treasury.
He continues about the safety precautions and the uses of cinnabar:
"Those who polish cinnabar in workshops tie loose masks made of bladder-skin over their faces to prevent inhalation of dust as they breathe; the dust is a very serious health hazard ... Cinnabar is used for lettering in books and it makes more colourful lettering for inscriptions on walls, marble or even tombs.’ [Natural History, Book XXXIII 122]"
Cinnabar was used to outline the lettering on a funerary stele on display.
Medium
A gold necklace with emeralds and pearls is displayed in the exhibition.
HighEmeralds Pliny says that they were mined in the hills outside of Coptos in southern Egypt Value: ranked third by Pliny after diamonds and pearls in value.
Certainly there is no colour more delightful in appearance. For although we enjoy looking at plants and leaves, we regard emeralds with all the more pleasure because compared with them there is absolutely nothing that is more intensely green Pliny the Elder Natural History XXXVII 62
Pearls Ranked second after diamonds as the most expensive item in the Empire. ‘The Indian Ocean us our main source of pearls, the most prized of all jewels’ ‘Especially praised are the pearls from the islands around Arabia in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea’ Pliny the Elder Natural History IX 106
Gold Main source of gold in the Roman Empire according to Pliny was northern Spain producing 20,000 pounds produced a year.
Emeralds Pliny says that they were mined in the hills outside of Coptos in southern Egypt Value: ranked third by Pliny after diamonds and pearls in value.
Certainly there is no colour more delightful in appearance. For although we enjoy looking at plants and leaves, we regard emeralds with all the more pleasure because compared with them there is absolutely nothing that is more intensely green Pliny the Elder Natural History XXXVII 62
Pearls Ranked second after diamonds as the most expensive item in the Empire. ‘The Indian Ocean us our main source of pearls, the most prized of all jewels’ ‘Especially praised are the pearls from the islands around Arabia in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea’ Pliny the Elder Natural History IX 106
Gold Main source of gold in the Roman Empire according to Pliny was northern Spain producing 20,000 pounds produced a year.
A gold necklace with emeralds and pearls is displayed in the exhibition.
HighAfter straining our eyes by looking at another object, we can restore our vision to normal by gazing at an emerald
- Pliny the Elder Natural History XXXVII 63
Trade all 6 items
found at the Port or Markets.
Discover the trade routes for popular imports and exports.
Congratulations...
your ship is on the way.
Begin your trading experience in Pompeii.
Are you still trading?
HINT: Trade all 6 items found at the Port or Markets.
or you can restart
Ostia - Narbo (Narbonne)
(3 Days)
Pompeii - Rome
(1 Days)
Ostia - Carthage
(3-5 Days)
Puteoli - Alexandria
(15-20 Days)
Gortyn (Crete) - Pompeii
(10 Days)
Gades - (Cadiz) - Ostia
(9 Days)
