Advertising was certainly around at that time, so it would be possible. Although the article is mostly correct the phrasing and conclusions they make are maddening to read.

Here is an article on advertising in the Roman world, not sure how accurate it is, for one thing the claim that the Romans Empire was "likely" the cradle of advertising which I know for a fact isn't true.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...ng/ai_4806053/