Pompeii Market

Pompeii's Civil Forum (looking north along the east side toward Mount Vesuvius) was a thriving market and political center. In earlier days of ancient Roman life, the political side of things was restricted to the comitium at the northern corner of the Forum. The rest of the area was occupied by the market. Later on, the markets were moved to make way for a larger public meeting space.

Various public buildings, such as the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of Vespasian, and the Basilica (a center for justice and commerce) face the Forum. Many paintings have been discovered that depict the bustling life of the Forum. They show men consulting officials, a family choosing shoes to buy, a school teacher who has a class under the colonnade, and a rich lady giving some spare coins to a beggar with a dog.

The Macellum was the main food market of the Forum, fish being one of the main foods, because the Mediterranean Sea was on Pompeii’s doorstep. It was a circular area with a domed roof, which had a hole in the top. This was possibly to allow the stench of the fish to leave, and this shows the ingenuity of the ancient Romans. There was also a pool in the center, possibly containing the fish for sale. The Pompeiians used the walls of the Basilica to write colorful painted notices, and more color was added by the brightly colored walls and red roofs.