Ostia Antica

Quick Facts: Who was Ostia Antica?

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Ostia Antica

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Major archaeological site and former bustling port city of ancient Rome.

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Origins & Early Life

'Ancient Ostia') is the modern name given to the ancient Roman city of Ostia. It became the port city of Rome located at the mouth of the Tiber and is near modern Ostia, 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Rome. Due to silting of the coastline from the river, the site now lies 3 km (2 mi) from the sea. The name Ostia (the plural of ostium) derives from Latin os 'mouth'. The city continued to be prosperous into late antiquity despite harbour deterioration.

Career & Major Achievements

After its abandonment, sand dunes covered the site and aided the city's preservation, which is surpassed only by Pompeii and Herculaneum. Ostia Antica is now a large archaeological site noted for the excellent preservation of its ancient buildings, magnificent frescoes and impressive mosaics. As in Pompeii, Ostia's remains provide details about Roman urbanism that are not accessible within the city of Rome itself. Ostia may have been Rome's first colony. According to legend, Ancus Marcius, the fourth king of Rome, was the first to destroy Ficana, an ancient town that was only 17 km (11 mi) from Rome and had a small harbour on the Tiber, and then proceeded with establishing the new colony 10 km (6 mi) further west and closer to the sea coast.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

An inscription seems to confirm the establishment of the old castrum (military camp) of Ostia in the 7th century BC. The oldest archaeological remains so far discovered date back to only the 4th century BC. The most ancient buildings currently visible are from the 3rd century BC, notably the Castrum; of a slightly later date is the Capitolium (temple of Jupiter, Juno and Minerva). Ostia probably developed as a naval base and in 267 BC, during the First Punic War, it was the seat of the quaestor Ostiensis in charge of the fleet. It had an important commercial and military role during the Second Punic War, so that it obtained exemption from military service for its inhabitants.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ostia Antica

True or False: “The primary reason Ostia Antica is exceptionally well-preserved, comparable only to Pompeii and Herculaneum, was due to its continuous habitation through the late Roman period.”

Answer (TRUE ⭕): After abandonment, sand dunes covered the site, which protected the structures from subsequent decay.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Ostrogothic Kingdom — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A Germanic kingdom that controlled Italy from 493 to 553, preserving Roman institutions.
• Ostrogoths — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: A Germanic people who established a major kingdom in Italy during the 5th and 6th centuries.
• Oswald de Andrade — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Pioneering Brazilian Modernist poet, novelist, and cultural critic.
• Oswald Mosley — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: British far-right politician who founded the British Union of Fascists.
• Oswald of Northumbria — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: Saintly King of Northumbria, credited with unifying the region and promoting Christianity.
• Oswald Spengler — Chrono-Wiki Encyclopedia Entry: German polymath known for his cyclical theory of history and 'The Decline of the West'

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