The first reliable reference to a market is found in a Homeric inscription, which dates from the beginning of the 6th century BC approximately. The marketplace was usually situated in the centre of the polis or near the port, if there was one. There gathered various citizens, farmers and craftsmen and exchanged their products. But apart from the permanent markets in the cities, there were also the seasonal ones. These were organized outside the city, usually in order to supply armies, with which the city was on friendly terms, but did not wish to permit them entrance within its walls.

Greek markets were the places where was fostered the independent and competitive spirit, which motivated Greek merchants to adopt from the East new techniques in their production. These techniques were developed and perfected by local artisans. A representative example is the case of the granulation goldsmithing technique.