The Forum (Foro Civile di Pompei) was the core of public daily life of the city. Here were located all the main public buildings for administration, for business management, for trade activities (such as markets), as well as for worship.

The square of the Forum originally looked like a simple open area with an overall regular shape, made of clay and its western side opened on to the Sanctuary of Apollo, whereas the eastern side had a row of shops. The Forum was significantly modified between the 3rd and 2nd century BC when the shape of the square was regularized, surrounded by porticoes and paved with slabs of tuff. The axis of the square became the façade of the Temple of Jupiter, aligned with Mount Vesuvius.