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The Forum

Explore the significance and functions of the Forum in Pompeii, where commercial, judicial, civic, and religious activities took place. Discover its food markets, services like money exchange and banking, and the bustling atmosphere that characterized this central hub.

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The Forum

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  1. The Forum www.misterconnor.org

  2. Etymology From foris, foras "out of doors, outside," It is the equivalent of the Greek agora.

  3. What was it for? • This word is applied to the central space in a town where most of its commercial, judicial, civic and religious activity was conducted. • Food markets selling various meat, bread and local produce were found in the forum just as there are often butchers, bakers and grocers in modern town centres. • The forum provided services such as money exchanging and banking, most modern town centres also provide banks or money exchange services. • Stalls were set up in open area like a farmers’ market today.

  4. In Pompeii • Religious buildings: Temples of Apollo, Jupiter and Public Lares • Political buildings: the Law Court and Voting Hall (Comitium) • Business Buildings: Food Market (Macellum), Building of Eumachia

  5. Temple of Jupiter • The Temple of Jupiter, dedicated to the Capitoline triad of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva, dominates the north side of the Forum. • It dates from the 2nd century BC and was part of the enlargement of the forum at that time. 

  6. Comitium • In this large hall electors, who were divided into curiae voted for the lists of candidates before the duumvir, who was in turn nominated by the elected assembly. • The comitium was more of an unroofed open space than a building.

  7. The Macellum • The complex had a large number of shops on its periphery and on the Forum as well as on the inside under a colonnade around its large internal court. 

  8. Municipal Offices • The three spacious halls served as the municipal offices for the city's administration. • They were the official offices of the aediles and duumvirs, while the central hall was the council chamber or curia where the decurions met.

  9. Building of Eumachia • The building of Eumachia was the guildhall of the cloth trade. • It was set up by the priestess Eumachia for the 'fullones'. • This industry was regarded as so important that it could have its guildhall in the forum which was the centre of business life in Pompeii.

  10. Hustle and Bustle • The forum was a busy, noisy centre for the town. • All walks of life mixed together here. • A town herald (praeco) would have given official information to the citizenry. • Lawyers would tout for business.

  11. The Skinny • Centre of commercial, judicial, civic and religious activity. • Food markets sold various meat, bread and local produce. • Services such as money exchanging and banking were available. • Stalls were set up in open area like a farmers’ market today. • Town herald would announce key news developments. (Day off on August 24, 79 AD?)

  12. Sources • https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/public-buildings/macellum • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duumviri • https://sites.google.com/site/ad79eruption/pompeii/public-buildings/building-of-eumachia

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