Page 40 - Pompeii n. 12 - The world of money at Pompeii

English version

Comment

The inscription recalls the sale of the vinasses or the residue obtained
from pressing grapes for the preparation of wine on 25th June.
These operations were likely to have taken place on a small farm located
in the countryside belonging to the owner of the house, whose decorations
suggests he was somewhat well-to-do.
The date on which this sale took place, well after the usual date of the
grape harvest, indicates that it involved grape pomace left to dry which was
then used for feeding various animals, according to the writers Varrone and
Columella (see above all Col., D. R. R. VI 3, 4).
The process of distillation that gave rise to the production of spirits was
not known in the Roman world.
On the other hand, the inscription shows the interest with which revenue
was procured, even if small, from the production waste aimed at optimizing
the performance deriving from the various agricultural activities.

HOUSE OF VETTII, TRICLINIUM (EAST WALL). Pictorical frieze with grape harvest.
©SSBAPES.

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