Headless male statue in the Porta Romana necropolis at Ostia Antica, Lazio, Italy, amid family tombs along the Via Ostiensis, highway leading east to Ancient Rome. Ostia was founded in the 7th century BC at the mouth of the River Tiber as Rome’s seaport, but now lies inland after silting changed the river’s course. It thrived in both Republican and Imperial eras, reaching peak prosperity as emperors built palaces, monuments and public buildings, but further silting cost Ostia its prime role. It was eventually sacked by Visigoths and Vandals and was finally abandoned in the 9th century.
Ostia Antica, Lazio, Italy: this headless male statue stands in the Porta Romana necropolis outside the city walls amid family tombs flanking the former Via Ostiensis, the eastern highway to ancient Rome. Ostia (from Ostium, Latin for mouth) lies about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of the Italian capital. It was founded in the 7th century BC on the estuary or mouth of the Tiber as a seaport to serve Rome, but silting made the river change course and the site is now about miles inland. The oldest surviving remains are city walls built around 325 BC, as Rome expanded its domain within Italy. In the Republican era, Ostia grew into a thriving port, sending ships to Spain to supply Roman troops fighting Carthage. Ostia thrived in the Imperial era, with emperors Augustus, Domitian and Trajan building palaces, monuments and public buildings. Although the harbour began to silt up under Claudius (41-54 AD), with large vessels forced to moor at sea, Ostia continued to supply Rome with provisions and treasures shipped from around the Empire. It reached peak prosperity in the 2nd century AD, growing to house about 50,000 people at a time when Rome’s population was about 1 million. Ostia eventually lost its main commercial function to the new city of Portus, linked to the Tiber by canal, but retained offices, warehouses and temples. It grew in splendour under Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, but then fell into slow decline. That accelerated when the imperial capital moved to Constantinople in 330 and when Ravenna became Western Empire capital in 402. It was then sacked in turn by Visigoths and Vandals and the site was finally abandoned in the 9th century. Although some marble was stripped, the extensive remains have survived in good condition and the excavated site is now an archaeological park open to visitors.
Size: 2708px × 4076px
Location: Ostia Antica, Lazio, Italy
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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