Fast Food is Much Older Than You Might Think

About ten years ago, I was lucky enough to have a chance to visit Pompeii.  Walking through the ancient city streets is a surreal experience (and one I highly recommend if you ever have the chance). At one street corner I noticed this:

I asked my tour guide what this was. The guide’s reply gave me a new perspective as to how little some things have changed in 2000 years.

“This,” he said “is a fast food stand. In each pit would be a small fire and on top of the fire would be a pot each containing different foods. The patron would come from the street and make his order. On the back wall were images of the foods offered to help the transaction go more quickly.”

2000 years ago, you could go to this stand, point at the picture of the food, pay a coin or two and immediately be served a ready to eat meal as you continue down the street.

Below is an artist rendition of what this may have looked like:

And just so you know, these stands are known as Thermopoliums.

When you visit a McDonalds or any fast food joint, just remember you are participating in a tradition 2000 years old, and probably much older than that.

I call that food for thought! (I’m sorry, that was an awful pun.)

Note: All images were shamelessly taken off of a Google Image search. I hold no claim on them. (I do try to use Wiki-Commons or known public domain images when I can.)