Garum was the name of a fish sauce which was a favourite throughout Pompeii and was prepared and sold in this small house on Via dell'Abbondanza. As the residues found in six sealed containers in the courtyard have not yet been analysed, it has so far been impossible to establish whether the garum produced here was the high quality type (garum excellens or garum flos flos) or some poorer variety.
A large number of empty amphorae were stored in the back garden; they had just been cleaned and were ready to be filled by means of a funnel which was also found in the workshop. This is evidence that the garum from Pompeii was exported to many places throughout the Roman Empire.
The name of the manufacturer, A. Umbricius Scaurus, was painted on these vessels. Thanks to the commercial success of his product especially in Rome, A. Umbricius Scaurus was able to embark on a political career which culminated in the office of duumvir during the reign of the Emperor Nero.
Gallery 1
