The Thermopolium was the Roman version of a fast food joint
or diner. One would come up to a masonry counter in which there was set terra
cotta jars filled with wine or food. Many people in Pompeii
were poor and did not having cooking facilities in their homes, so they
depended on such establishments for their food. The Thermpoplium contains
crockery, an oil lamp, an urn, and a board for storing money.
The Mensa Ponderaria
This is where the public office which controlled weights and
measures was located. It contains a table with two benches each of nine
circular cavities corresponding to the different measurement. There was a hole
at the bottom through which the weighted item was passed.
The Amphitheatre
Built in the 2nd century BC, this theatre takes advantage of
the natural slope of the land to create the tiers of seats in a horseshoe shape
divided into three zones, of which the lower covered with marble and was
reserved for important citizens. The ring corridor supporting the upper tiers,
and the 'balconies' above the side entrances, were added during the Augustan
period. Gladiator games were held here, but it is presently used as a venue for
theatre productions and music concerts.
Villa of the Mysteries
The Villa of the Mysteries is a typical example of a
luxurious suburban house containing a vinyard annex. The house is built on a
steep slope facing the sea. An artificial embankment under the home contains
the "cryptoporticus," used as a cellar. The villa is so called
because the walls contain murals depicting women engaging in the rites of the
worship of the god Dionysus. The house is very well preserved with an interior
garden or peristyle with free standing columns surrounded by a wall.