ostia was the ancient port of rome and it ... - robin wilson · ostia was the ancient port of rome...

OstiawastheancientportofRomeanditwasalsoathrivingtown.ThecoastlineandcourseoftheriverTiberhavebothchangedsinceClassicaltimes,andthissiteisnolongeronthecoast.AuthorCarolineLawrencehaswrittenaguidetoOstiahttp://www.romanmysteries.com/day-ostia

Thetownwassackedbypiratesin68BCandthisledtothegeneralPompeybeinggivenamandatetocleartheMediterraneanofpirates.ItwasrebuiltunderCicero’sinstructionsandJuliusCaesarimprovedthegrainsupplytoRomebybuildingacanalandmakingimprovementstotheharbour.Duringthe1stcenturyADtheEmperorTiberiusbuiltaForum(townsquare)andsuccessiveemperorsconstructedahexagonalharbourcalledPortus.SafeguardingthegrainsupplytoRomewasveryimportantastheemperorsneededtokeepthepeoplecontent.

Ostiaitselfwasprovidedwithalltheservicesatownofthetimecouldrequire;inparticular,afamouslighthouse.18shrinestothePersiangodMithrashavebeendiscoveredaswellastemplestotheRomangodsandgoddesses.Thepublictoiletsarewell-preserved.Inaddition,Ostiahadalargetheatre,manypublicbaths,numeroustavernsandinnsandafirefightingservice.OstiaalsohastheearliestsynagogueyetidentifiedinEurope.