The Economy of Pompeii — Trade, Industry & Commerce

A Thriving Ancient Economy

Pompeii was not just a beautiful city — it was a prosperous one. Its economy, driven by agriculture, manufacturing, and trade, supported a comfortable standard of living for many of its residents and made it one of the most commercially active cities in the Bay of Naples region.

Agriculture

The foundation of Pompeii's wealth was its agriculture. The volcanic soil from Vesuvius was extraordinarily fertile, supporting intensive cultivation of:

Wine: Pompeii was a significant wine-producing region. Vineyards covered the slopes of Vesuvius and the surrounding countryside. Archaeological evidence includes wine presses, storage facilities (cellae vinariae), and amphorae stamped with Pompeian producers' names found across the Mediterranean. Some Pompeian wines were well-regarded, while others were considered ordinary table wines.

Olive Oil: Olive groves surrounded the city, and numerous oil presses have been found both within and outside the city walls. Olive oil was used for cooking, lighting, personal hygiene, and as a base for perfumes and medicines.

Grain and Produce: Wheat, barley, fruits, and vegetables were grown in the surrounding fields. Within the city, gardens (horti) in many homes supplemented the food supply.

Manufacturing

Garum: Pompeii's most famous manufactured product was garum (also called liquamen), a fermented fish sauce that was a ubiquitous condiment in Roman cuisine. Made by layering small fish, fish entrails, and salt in large stone vats and allowing them to ferment in the sun for weeks or months, garum ranged from expensive premium grades to cheap everyday varieties. The garum producer Aulus Umbricius Scaurus was one of Pompeii's wealthiest citizens, and his products have been found across the Roman world.

Textiles: The fullery (fullonica) industry was prominent in Pompeii. Fullers cleaned, dyed, and finished woolen cloth. The largest fullery, the Fullonica of Stephanus, provides detailed evidence of the cloth-finishing process, including the use of human urine as a cleaning agent.

Bakeries: At least 33 bakeries (pistrinae) have been identified, many with their own millstones for grinding grain. Bread was the staple food of the Roman diet, and bakers were among the most essential tradespeople in the city.

Commerce and Trade

Pompeii's position near the mouth of the Sarno River gave it access to maritime trade routes across the Mediterranean. The city served as a port and distribution center for goods moving between the coast and the interior.

The Forum was the commercial as well as political heart of the city, hosting markets and commercial transactions. Via dell'Abbondanza, the main commercial street, was lined with shops offering everything from food and drink to household goods, clothing, and luxury items.

Currency and Finance

Pompeii used the standard Roman currency system: the gold aureus, silver denarius, brass sestertius, and copper as. Prices recorded in graffiti and on shop walls give us remarkable insight into the cost of living: a loaf of bread cost about 2 asses, a modius (about 9 liters) of wheat cost about 7 asses, and a donkey cost about 520 asses.