I have been trading in the forum for the last five years now - business has been very good for all the traders here, because everyone wants the latest fashions in jewellery, glassware, pottery and other goods.
I sell mainly foodstuffs - I buy huge jars (amphorae) of wine, and olive oil from Spain from the shipping merchants at the docks. Then I sell them at a healthy profit to my customers. I also sell fish sauce (garum) from Spain and even dates from North Africa.

Many people like eating Roman food. It's much spicier and more interesting than the food they used to eat. I sell herbs and spices from all over the world, weighing them out carefully with my scales. Bay leaves, mint, dill and coriander are all popular, and quite cheap. Cumin, ginger from China and mustard seeds are used to make food spicy. The most expensive spice is pepper, which comes all the way from China.

Most of these herbs and spices are also used to make medicines, and a few are used to make perfume and incense - so you can see why I do very good business!

I like working in the market. It's full of people shouting, arguing, haggling over prices, street entertainers and traders trying to make themselves heard. There are overloaded carts swaying dangerously, herds of noisy squealing animals, and the constant hammering of the coppersmiths in the background. The taverns do a roaring trade, as bargaining and selling is thirsty work. I drink cheap wine, and buy sausages, cheese, bread and vegetable stew from the taverns to keep me going through the day.
Different parts of the market sell different goods. There is a fish market, a fruit and vegetable market, and another where metal workers sell all sorts of tools. There is also a regular slave market. Customers pay me with bronze and silver coins, and the market director (aedile) checks that I do not charge them too much.

One day I would like to own a part share of a merchant ship, so that I can make even bigger profits from my customers!