Forum

The forum was a large rectangular area in the south-west of Pompeii and was the heart of the town. It was surrounded by colonnades and was a pedestrian area only. Statues of important citizens were situated around the forum. It was the religious, commercial, and civic centre for the whole town. The forum contained the main temples in the town such as the Temple of Jupiter, the Temple of Apollo, the Temple of the Lares and the Temple of Vespasian.

In addition the forum was also the business centre of Pompeii. It contained the macellum or covered market where Pompeians could buy meat or fish. The open area of the forum would have contained traders who would have set up stalls - a kind of open air market. At the top left hand corner of the forum was the public weights and measures table or 'mensa ponderaria'. One of the most important industries in Pompeii was represented in the forum - the building of the Eumachia or the Guildhall of the cloth trade.

The forum was also a centre for local government. It contained three offices for the town councillors and also the basilica which was a law court and a place for business men to meet.