I have always wondered what ancient Rome was like when the Apostle Paul was there.
When hubby and I visited Rome recently it was impossible to even try to imagine what ancient Rome might have been like. Our tour guide, Franco, repeatedly reminded us that Rome is like a “lasagna” (so to speak) with multiple layers of history on top of each other. The remains of the ancient Rome in which Paul (and the first-century Christians) lived are for the most part buried deep down amongst the layers of the “historical lasagna.”
To the south of Rome, about 241 kilometers, is the ancient Roman city of Pompeii. While ancient Rome itself has been buried deep down amongst layers of subsequent history, the ancient Roman city of Pompeii (from the exact same time period) was buried deep in layers of ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius.
The Apostle Paul arrived in Rome in the year AD 60.
The city of Pompeii, a couple hours to the south, was destroyed in AD 79, just a few years later.
By looking at the ruins and remains of the ancient city of Pompeii we can actually get a pretty good idea of what ancient Rome might have been like during the time the Apostle Paul lived there.
Here you can see an illustration from the guide map I picked up when hubby and I were at Pompeii. This shows you what a typical fast-food shop of ancient Rome was probably like.
According to the guide brochure: The word “Thermopolia” comes from the Greek “thermos” (for hot) and “Poleo” (to sell). These were places which served drinks and hot dishes, kept in large jars (dolia) sunk into a masonry counter. These fast-food shops were widespread in the Roman world where it was customary to eat a meal outside the house.
“There are about 80 thermopolia (aka: fast-food shops) in Pompeii alone. Some of them have decorated counters or splendid frescoes on the walls.”
And here you can see the actual remains of a thermopolia (aka: fast-food shop). If Pompeii had 80, then probably the ancient city of Rome would have had many more! We can be sure the Apostle Paul, and the early Christians of the first century, enjoyed many fast-food meals just like we do today.
Picture in your mind a Mediterranean-type fast-food shop, with perhaps meat kebabs served in pitas.
Imagine the delicious smells as you enter the shop.
This was what ancient Rome would have been like.
