Commerce

  Commerce in Pompeii

Commerce in Pompeii was very important part of every residents life who live in Pompeii. In fact the main commercial area of Pompeii was the forum and that was the centre of government, business, and law. This was also where the main shopping was in the town. Almost every street inside the forum had shop of every different kind. (http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2004/8/29/51945/7218 ) Merchants sold produce, seafood, olive oil, wine, wool, millstone, and garum (a type of fish sauce). (http://www.sdnhm.org/media/pompeii_press/Day_to_Day_in_Pompeii.pdf) Food shops had counters with large pots called dolias. In these pots the shopkeeper would keep many different types of food in them like grain, dried fruit, and liquids. Meat and poultry were put on a bar and hung in the entrance. (Connolly, 54) Bars and taverns were very popular in Pompeii. Bars sold hot drinks in small rooms opening to the street. Taverns were pretty small, there were only three table that fit the maximum amount of 21 people. (Connolly, 56) The pottery called an amphora in Pompeii was very successful business. Amphoras were needed for import and export trade. This pottery was special for its local red colored clay from the volcanic elements in the soil. It also traces the flow of goods from Pompeii to other ancient cities. (http://www.sdnhm.org/media/pompeii_press/Day_to_Day_in_Pompeii.pdf) Pompeii had many other places to go to like bakeries, laundries, hotels for visitors from other places who are visiting, and public bath houses. (http://www.sdnhm.org/media/pompeii_press/Day_to_Day_in_Pompeii.pdf ) There were also bronzesmiths and a cloth-finishing factory, which was operated by slaves and managed by freedmen. (Connolly,52)

Refereces: "A Day in Pompeii". San Diego Natural History Museum. 12-03-08 . "BOOKRAGS STAFF. "A History of Pompeii and Herculaneum". 2000. December 4 2008.  Connolly, Peter. __Pompeii__. Oxford, New York: Oxford University Press, 1979. Cutler, Teresa. "Pompeii's Phallus: Eroticism in Ancient Italy ". Life in Italy . 12-03-08 .