The Forum
A - Municipal Offices
B - Basilica
C - Temple of Apollo
D - Horrea
E - Arch of
Germanicus
F - Temple of Jupiter
G - Macellum
H - Temple of the
Lares Publici
I - Temple of
Vespasian
J - Building of
Eumachia
K - Comitium
The forum was the
central meeting place
for the general public
(publica) of Pompeii. It
acted as a town centre
therefore it held the
major buildings of the
city. This included
social, political and
cultural areas.
NB: The forum in
Herculaneum has not
been uncovered yet.
A - Office of the
Aediles
B - The council
chamber
C - Office of the
Duumvirs
The Basilica played an important role in both civil and commercial
life of Pompeii. Not only was justice administered here, but it was
also the focus of the commercial life of the city.
Apollo, god of light, was
of Greek origins
believed to have been
introduced into Pompeii
in the 6th Century BCE.
The Roman Emperor
Augustus adopted
Apollo as his patron and
associated the god with
his “Golden Age.”
The temple of Apollo
was very important and
elaborate, being
situated on the western
end of the forum in
Pompeii.
Statue of Apollo

The main temple in the north of
the open space was the Temple
of Jupiter, now considered to
be the temple of the Capitoline
three (Jupiter, Juno and
Minerva).
Bust of Jupiter


The Macellum, or food market, stands
in the north-east corner of the Forum.
The Macellum had three entrances,
(B), (I) and (J) as indicated on the
accompanying plan.
Entrance (B)
Rotunda (H)
Sacrificial
Banquets (F)
Market Room (D)



The building has been
designated as the
sanctuary for the public
lares but it may have been
dedicated to the deified
Augustus.
Probably built after the
earthquake of AD62 for the
people of Pompeii.
Lares were guardian deities
in ancient Roman religion.
Lares were believed to
observe, protect and
influence all that happened
within the boundaries of
their location or function.
Two small rooms
flank the entrance
(D), in one of
which was found
a large container
for urine utilized
in the fullonicas
for the degreasing
of cloth. This
most likely means
that the Eumachia
was a clothing
market for
cleaning and
making clothes
and materials.
Entrance (D)
Courtyard
Goods entrance (I)

In this large hall electors,
who were divided into
curiae (tribe) voted for the
lists of candidates before
the duumvir (joint
magistrates), who was in
turn nominated by the
elected assembly. The
Comitium is more of an
unroofed open space.