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