I prodotti del mare: pesci, ostriche e altri molluschi

Ancient literary sources often refer to Tarentine seawater products. In a quote by Athenaeus, the 2nd c. b.C. Greek physician, Euthydemus of Chios, mentions the high-quality of Tarentine tuna fish. Ennius recalls the quality of a fish known as the apriculus, while the Tarentine physician Heracleides praises the shellfish. In his Satires, Horace highlights the quality of the pectines of the molle Tarentum, while in Gellius’s words, Varro shows appreciation for the Ostrea Tarenti. According to Pliny, oysters from Taranto and Brindisi were very popular, alongside those from Lake Lucrino, Circeo and Lake Averno. Oysters remained a widely appreciated mollusk during the Medieval and modern periods. Up until the 20th century, oyster farming was practiced by immersing lentiscus fagots tied with ropes into the water. After two months, they were taken out, and the branches full of oysters were cut into smaller pieces, attached to vegetal ropes and then immersed again into the water for growing. The 15th century Libro Rosso di Taranto offers information about the names of the fish farms in the Mar Piccolo and the techniques of oyster and clam (gamadie) farming. Contractors could fish them cum branca every year, in the time span between September 15th and January 15th each year. On the other hand, less information is available concerning mussel farming. Indeed, this type of aquaculture is not attested before the 15-16th c., when the first farms were installed. In the following century, this production increased greatly and became an important characteristic of the local economy. From the 5th century BC, Tarentine coins were minted with depictions of different types of mollusks, crustaceans, and fish (octopus, cuttlefish, serranus gigas, crab, murex, pekten, tuna, labrax, dolphin). Similarly, local artisans started to paint fish on vases, particularly on the ‘fish plates’, or to engrave and carve them on other types of artifacts. All of these objects testify to the local richness in fish and the economic importance of all sea-related activities for the entire community.