It’s the end of a long day. You’re tired, hungry, and the thought of grocery shopping, chopping vegetables, cooking, and cleaning feels like too much. So, like many of us, you opt for something quick—a drive-through burger, a boxed pizza, or a burrito in a paper bag.
But here’s a fun twist: we’re not the first culture to crave quick meals after a busy day. Ancient Romans had their own version of “fast food,” and it was even more common than ours!
In the centuries surrounding the time of Christ, most city dwellers in Rome and throughout the Empire lived in insulae—densely packed, multi-story apartment blocks. Built mostly of wood, these buildings were notorious fire hazards. With no dedicated police force, Rome relied on vigils, a dual night watch and fire brigade, who patrolled streets with buckets and ladders, always ready to fight the next blaze. Italo Gismondi in GUIDO CALZA: Le origini latine dell'abitazione moderna (I), CC BY-SA 3.0<https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Because fire was such a constant danger, many insulae banned cooking indoors. Imagine living in a tiny apartment with no kitchen! Families could nibble on bread, fruit, cheese, or dried fish at home, but if you wanted a hot meal, you had to step outside.
If you couldn’t cook your meals in a private kitchen—where would you go? Many Romans purchased food at a tavern or food stand.
Tabernae were bustling taverns where patrons could grab a drink, gamble, socialize, and eat simple meals. My first book, Obedient Unto Death, has Sabina visiting a taberna, A definite no-no for an upper-class woman. Mentnafunangann, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Thermopolia were the true fast-food counters. These street-side shops featured L-shaped counters with embedded dolia (large clay jars) filled with steaming soups, stews, meats, and vegetables, ready to serve.
A thermopolia excavated along a main street in ancient Sardis contained two cooking hearths and ceramic and glass dishes for serving food. An L-shaped masonry bench built outside the main door provided customers with seating in the shaded portico. A double-seat latrine was installed in the opposite corner inside. Wide openings in one corner of the structure likely functioned as serving windows, designed so attendants could pass food and drink directly to patrons gathered beneath the portico.
Ancient Convenience, Familiar Feeling
So the next time you’re waiting in line at McDonald’s, Wendy’s, or Little Caesars, picture a bustling Roman street lined with food counters, steam rising from dolia, and merchants shouting the day’s specials. Ancient Romans may not have had French fries or egg rolls, but they shared our need for quick, affordable meals in a busy world.
History reminds us that “fast food” isn’t a modern invention—it’s a timeless solution for tired, hungry people.
In the bustling streets of ancient Ephesus, fortunes can change in an instant. When one of the city’s wealthiest citizens is found crushed beneath his own triumphant memorial, the powerful elite demand justice—but at what cost? Enigmatic investigator Sabina faces her most perilous case yet. As secrets unravel and enemies close in, she must navigate political intrigue, dark sorcery, and forbidden love to uncover the truth. In a city where everyone has something to hide, who can be trusted? And how far will Sabina go to solve a mystery that could cost her everything?Liisa’s books have been called a cross between Agatha Christie and Francine Rivers. Her mystery novel, Obedient Unto Death, won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award for a debut novel and first place in the Spiritual Fiction category. The sequel, Fortunes of Death, continues the Secrets of Ephesus series, weaving fascinating Christian twists into the historical mystery genre of the first-century Roman Empire. Liisa’s travels to Turkey, Greece, and Italy have enriched her stories with vivid depictions of New Testament culture, history, and people.
Liisa’s journey into writing proves it’s never too late to follow your dreams and share your passion with the world.
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