Res Rustica: Ancient Roman Diet and Cooking at MANN

The MANN (Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli) presents "Res Rustica", an exhibition on ancient Roman food and cooking, featuring artifacts from Pompeii. The show includes carbonized food remains like olives, pine nuts, garlic, cereals, legumes, figs, onions, and grape seeds, displayed in a new arrangement after 30 years. A map traces the origin of each species, mostly from the East. The exhibition is organized with the University of Naples Federico II's Department of Agriculture and sponsored by Rossopomodoro. Research on five kilograms of grapes revealed they date to the 18th century, not antiquity. The second room showcases kitchen tools: amphorae, pots, scales, and plates, plus bread, a tarallo, a fresella, and a bottle containing the world's oldest olive oil. The oil was presented at MANN in September by Alberto Angela, who was named ambassador of the museum by director Paolo Giulierini. The exhibition also features the Presepe Continuum, a nativity scene by the Associazione Presepistica Napoletana, depicting scenes from museum collections. Architect and landscape designer Silvia Neri presents reconstructed ancient recipes, including meatballs by Apicius, patina cotidiana (a white lasagna), and garum sauce. The agricultural economy of Pompeii and Herculaneum was prosperous due to favorable climate, producing vegetables, fruits, grapes, and olives.