Ancient Roman diet revealed in Paris exhibition of Pompeii food remains

The exhibition 'Dernier repas à Pompéi' at the Musée de l'Homme in Paris showcases exceptionally well-preserved botanical remains from Pompeii, including olives, figs, pomegranates, lentils, and nuts, revealing the dietary habits of ancient Romans. Curated by archaeobotanist Alessia D'Auria, the show features nineteen edible species—fruits, cereals, and legumes—from the collections of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples. Unlike previous exhibitions that focused on pottery and utensils, this one centers on the botanical finds themselves, highlighting agronomic and botanical aspects. The diet of ancient Campania was largely vegetarian, based on cereals and legumes, with meat and fish reserved for the wealthy. Gladiators, called 'hordearii' (barley men), ate only cereals and legumes to build protective fat. D'Auria also recounts discovering a 6-kg box of grape clusters from Herculaneum, excavated in 1761, which turned out to be modern material from the 1700s—a long-held 'fake' in the museum's deposits. The exhibition runs until January 4, 2021.