©HandoutPompeii Archaeological Park/AFP
In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists excavating in Pompeii, the ancient Roman city, have unearthed a “prison bakery” where slaves and blindfolded donkeys were confined underground to grind grain for bread. This revelation, announced by the Archaeological Park of Pompeii, sheds new light on the harsh realities of ancient Roman life.
Nestled beneath a house in the ruins, the excavation team found a cramped room, isolated from the outside world. The room, characterized by small, high windows barred with iron, allowed only slivers of light to penetrate the gloom. This stark setting, as described on the UNESCO World Heritage Site’s website, is believed to have been a “prison bakery,” a place where the most menial and grueling tasks were carried out by those at the lowest echelons of society.
Further investigation revealed indentations in the floor, suggesting the forced, repetitive movement of animals, likely donkeys, which were blindfolded and made to walk in circles for hours to operate the grinding mechanisms. This discovery adds a poignant dimension to our understanding of the daily operations of ancient Roman bakeries.
The house, part of the 44-hectare site currently being excavated, was a study in contrasts. While one part boasted luxurious Fourth Style frescoes, indicative of the residential quarters, the other part housed the bakery, a site of relentless toil for both humans and animals. The discovery of three skeletons in one of the bakery’s rooms confirms that the house was indeed inhabited.
[gallery size="full" ids="206886,206887,206888"]
The bakery’s design, devoid of doors or external communication, underscores the harsh conditions and restricted freedom endured by the slaves. Gabriel Zuchtreigel, director of Pompeii, described it in a scholarly article as a space that epitomizes the darkest aspects of ancient slavery, marked by brute violence and a complete absence of any semblance of trust or hope for manumission.
This stark reality of ancient life is further explored in an upcoming exhibition, “The Other Pompeii: Ordinary Lives in the Shadow of Vesuvius,” which opens at the Palestra Grande in Pompeii on December 15. The exhibition aims to bring to light the lives of those often overlooked in historical narratives, such as the slaves who formed the backbone of Roman society, contributing significantly to its economy, culture, and social fabric.
Pompeii, tragically destroyed nearly 2,000 years ago in AD 79 due to the eruption of nearby Mount Vesuvius, stands today as a poignant testament to the past. The catastrophic event, which claimed approximately 3,000 lives, paradoxically helped preserve many of the city’s buildings and the remains of its victims in their near-original state.
As the second most visited tourist destination in Italy after the Colosseum in Rome, Pompeii continues to fascinate and educate, offering unparalleled insights into the ancient world, its complexities, and its contradictions.
With AFP
Read more
Comments