
As Pompeii consists of around 600 private shops, bars, workshops and Inns it was ultimately controlled by trade, as markets were found around the forum and there was epigraphic evidence of tradesmen and retailers. To the people of Pompeii commerce and profit was hugely respected and desired as Mercury the god of commerce was worshiped and often displayed outside shops, on walls and on sales counters. Numerous inscriptions were found that emphasised the importance of profit. In particular one inscription was found in a mosaic entrance way to the wealthy home of two men “Profit is Joy.”
33 Bakeries have been excavated in Pompeii to date which meant that citizens were not forced to make the bread from scratch themselves and purchase the grains to make flour. Instead this main source of food was produced in large amounts reaching over 2000 loaves a day to satisfy the needs of the community. Bread was said to have been eaten at breakfast with fruit and at lunch and dinner for dipping in soups, oils and stew. From this we know that bakeries played a vital role in society.
Inscriptions or graffiti of shopping lists have been discovered and on all that are readable bread has been mentioned. A number of preserved loaves of bread were discovered including 81 loaves in an oven which emphasised how off guard the people of Pompeii were at the time of the eruption. Above is an image of a plaster copy of an original carbonised loaf. Not only does the bread show the importance of the bakery and trade but also shows that the production of bread was a daily routine and that people continued on as though it was a normal day.
33 Bakeries have been excavated in Pompeii to date which meant that citizens were not forced to make the bread from scratch themselves and purchase the grains to make flour. Instead this main source of food was produced in large amounts reaching over 2000 loaves a day to satisfy the needs of the community. Bread was said to have been eaten at breakfast with fruit and at lunch and dinner for dipping in soups, oils and stew. From this we know that bakeries played a vital role in society.
Inscriptions or graffiti of shopping lists have been discovered and on all that are readable bread has been mentioned. A number of preserved loaves of bread were discovered including 81 loaves in an oven which emphasised how off guard the people of Pompeii were at the time of the eruption. Above is an image of a plaster copy of an original carbonised loaf. Not only does the bread show the importance of the bakery and trade but also shows that the production of bread was a daily routine and that people continued on as though it was a normal day.

One bakery in particular provides a rather detailed insight into the way in which they produced the bread and how the baker himself lived. The photo shown is the Pistrinium located on Ricolo Storto (Reg VII, Ins 2, 22) and was said to have been owned by N. Popidius Priscus who occupied (Ins n.20) Casa dei Marmi. We are aware of this because the family name is seen inscripted in Oscan on an old rock in the Peristyle of the home. Both the house and the owner are associated with the bakery due to the excavated bronze stamp that bears the name Popidius which was used to trade mark his loaves and cakes. Another piece of evidence that points toward the relationship of the home and the bakery is the door leading from the atrium of Casa dei Marmi to the prosperous bakery. Casa dei Marmi was the most decorated and largest home on the block and therefore excavators have reason to believe that N. Popidius was a wealthy man. This is not entirely because of the bakery as there was a door out the back of the house that led to a barroom (n47) which consisted of numerous wine jars and hospitable double doors upon the street.
Although this particular Pistrinium is semi ruinous we are able to depict 4 large millstones, traces of a stable, 4 storage rooms and a large oven which all indicate that the production of bread was an important process in daily life. The size of the mills and oven show that a large amount of bread was needed to be produced and this in turn emphasizes the importance of trade as a main source of income for some people.
This Bakery informs us of the importance of the bakery due to its size and due to the other 32 bakeries. It also shows us that trade was a practiced profession during the Roman times and that bread was a main source of food.
If Pompeii had not been preserved it is possible that the bakery would have adapted to modern technologies and the use of animals to drive the mills would have been put to an end. Having a preserved bakery shows that it had a large presence and this provides modern society with the idea that Romans traded for income which gives us insight into how they worked for a living.
Although this particular Pistrinium is semi ruinous we are able to depict 4 large millstones, traces of a stable, 4 storage rooms and a large oven which all indicate that the production of bread was an important process in daily life. The size of the mills and oven show that a large amount of bread was needed to be produced and this in turn emphasizes the importance of trade as a main source of income for some people.
This Bakery informs us of the importance of the bakery due to its size and due to the other 32 bakeries. It also shows us that trade was a practiced profession during the Roman times and that bread was a main source of food.
If Pompeii had not been preserved it is possible that the bakery would have adapted to modern technologies and the use of animals to drive the mills would have been put to an end. Having a preserved bakery shows that it had a large presence and this provides modern society with the idea that Romans traded for income which gives us insight into how they worked for a living.

Another example of the importance of the bakery is seen in a Frescoe found in the reception area of a pompeiian
home that depicts a baker wearing a formal toga handing bread over the counter as seen below. John Ward-Perkins and Amanda Claridge determine that the baker poses as Gaius Julius Polybius, a political candidate. It is believed that the image is part of a campaign as an inscription near by reads “I ask you to elect Gaius Julius Polybius aedile.
He gets good bread.” As the toga would be inappropriate dress for an every day baker it is safe to assume that the image possibly depicts Gaius offering bread over the counter to his citizens. This indicates the importance of the bakery during the time of Pompeii’s existence as political campaigns often use essential and popular aspects of daily life to advocate themselves for the position desired. This once again shows the importance of trade in Pompeii and that it was such an important aspect of life that it was used almost as a bribe.
This fresco portrays the bakery in action as a place of trade in order for the baker to make an income it also reinforces the importance that the bakery played in roman society as this image can be depicted as political. This shows us that everyday citizens traded money for food as we do today.
If this fresco had not been preserved by the eruption we would be unaware of the importance of trade as it would not have been depicted as a political strategy nor painted in action. The bakery would have developed and taken on new design concepts and would not have portrayed its original self. Because of its preservation it means that the building was unable to be knocked down and built over as time went by which is what occurs on a daily basis all around the world. This fresco indicates that the bakery was not a new concept but it was celebrated and respected.
home that depicts a baker wearing a formal toga handing bread over the counter as seen below. John Ward-Perkins and Amanda Claridge determine that the baker poses as Gaius Julius Polybius, a political candidate. It is believed that the image is part of a campaign as an inscription near by reads “I ask you to elect Gaius Julius Polybius aedile.
He gets good bread.” As the toga would be inappropriate dress for an every day baker it is safe to assume that the image possibly depicts Gaius offering bread over the counter to his citizens. This indicates the importance of the bakery during the time of Pompeii’s existence as political campaigns often use essential and popular aspects of daily life to advocate themselves for the position desired. This once again shows the importance of trade in Pompeii and that it was such an important aspect of life that it was used almost as a bribe.
This fresco portrays the bakery in action as a place of trade in order for the baker to make an income it also reinforces the importance that the bakery played in roman society as this image can be depicted as political. This shows us that everyday citizens traded money for food as we do today.
If this fresco had not been preserved by the eruption we would be unaware of the importance of trade as it would not have been depicted as a political strategy nor painted in action. The bakery would have developed and taken on new design concepts and would not have portrayed its original self. Because of its preservation it means that the building was unable to be knocked down and built over as time went by which is what occurs on a daily basis all around the world. This fresco indicates that the bakery was not a new concept but it was celebrated and respected.