Hotels and Hostelries in Ancient Pompeii
Eating and Sleeping in Roman Cauponae, Tabernae and Hospitiae
Eating out was part of Roman life. Cities offered a variety of different bars and eateries where patrons could buy take away snacks, eat a meal or simply have a drink. Cauponae, tabernae, popinae and thermopolii were found the busy social and commercial areas of the city; around the forum, bathhouses and in the amphitheatre area.
For those visiting the city, a meal and a place to sleep could be found in some of these establishments. Those that could afford it could also opt for specialised establishments known as hospitia or stabulae which where the roman equivalent of a hotel or motel
Hospitia
A Hospitia was a Roman hotel. Originally, they were rented rooms in private homes, which is how they got their name from the principle of hospitia, or hospitality, which a Roman host owed a guest in his house.
As time progressed, hospitia became solely commercial, offering guests’ food, drink and lodging. Many were converted former private houses, equipped with private dining rooms, garden triclinia and formal atriums. Others were more basic and often regarded as seedy.
One famous hospitia in Pompeii was the House of Sallust, an old Samnite-style house converted into a hotel from a private residence.
Stabula
Stabulae were hospitia that had facilities for stabling animals as well as rooms for guests. These Roman motels were found around the entrances to towns and cities, where they are recognisable by the ramped entrances that sloped onto the street to allow access to carts and pack animals.
Animals were accommodated in stables at the back of the stabula at the rear of a courtyard area that was also faced by kitchens and latrines. Guests would stay at the front of the complex although they could also be accommodated in rooms above the stables.
Caupona
A caupona was a Roman inn. Although they also provided accommodation, they also offered food and drink to non-residential guests.
Cauponae were regarded as low-class establishments. Diners ate in open-plan communal areas in booths with masonry seats or even private dining rooms where they dined around a circular table. Unlike when dining in polite Roman society, they did not recline but sat upright.
Thermopolium
A thermopolium was a small booth serving hot served hot food and drink. Selling directly to passing trade on the street, they were the Roman equivalent of take-out snack bars. An example is the bar of Vetutius Placidus.
Taberna and Popinae
Solely dedicated to eating and drinking in, tabernae and popinae were the types of establishment commonly found around the amphitheatre area
A taberna was a Roman bar. Originally one room shops open onto the street, the term eventually applied exclusively to taverns serving simple food. They also popular drinking establishments serving wine late into the night whilst patrons gambled.
Popinae did not place so much emphasis on drinking. They were lower class restaurants offering very quick, unsophisticated eat-in meals.
Both tabernae and popinae were laid out in a similar way. Each had an L shaped marble counter, between 6 and 8ft long where customers were served. Food was cooked on simple braziers and served in large containers or dolia which were sunk into holes in the counters. Latrines were often available at the back for patrons.
The quality of food and drink in Roman bars and restaurants varied. The wine in some tabernae was notorious for being watered whilst in others, it was possible to get a reasonably priced decent wine for one Roman as or prestigious falernian for 4 as.
Graffiti also suggest that many tabernae , such as Asellina’s tavern served as brothels or places were casual liaisons could be had with the female bar staff.
Sources
Pompeii: Archaeological Guide. Instituto Geografico de Agostini.
The World of Pompeii (2007) Ed. John J Dobbins and Pedar W Foss. Routledge: London and New York.
bar in Pompeii with counter and dolia
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bar in Pompeii with counter and dolia
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