Porta Romana necropolis on the Via Ostiensis, at Ostia Antica, Lazio, Italy.
Ostia Antica, Lazio, Italy: Porta Romana necropolis on the Via Ostiensis, the highway leading east from Ostia Antica to Ancient Rome. Burial places were always situated outside Roman cities, flanking roads leading to the city gates. The Porta Romana necropolis consists of some 60 tombs dating from the second century BC to the second century AD. Over time, these were modified and placed on top of each other. The necropolis also consists of various utilitarian structures that may have housed undertakers. It was excavated in the 1850s and early 1900s. Ostia (from Ostium, Latin for mouth) lies about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Rome. 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. Further silting cost Ostia its prime role. It was eventually sacked by Visigoths and Vandals and was finally abandoned in the 9th century.
Size: 4113px × 2732px
Location: Porta Romana necropolis, Ostia Antica, Lazio, Italy
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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