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Ostia
Roma Capitale
Contents
9 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Orientation2:04
Welcome to Ostia Antica, a site that serves as a profound fossilization of Roman urban life, offering a window into the daily existence of the Empire that Pompeii, for all its fame, cannot fully replicate. The name itself derives…
Listen in the app2The Baths of Neptune — Social Hubs and Mosaics1:54
As we enter the Baths of Neptune, we are standing in the largest bath complex in Ostia, a facility that underscores the central role of communal hygiene and leisure in Roman society. Climbing the stairs to the first floor offers…
Listen in the app3The Theater of Ostia — Spectacle and Social Order1:42
The Theater of Ostia stands as a testament to the cultural life of the port, capable of seating approximately 4,000 spectators for rowdy, daytime events. Originally built in the era of Augustus, who mandated that Roman citizens…
Listen in the app4Piazzale delle Corporazioni — The Global Market1:48
Just behind the theater lies the Piazzale delle Corporazioni, arguably the world's first futures market and a precursor to modern globalization. This colonnaded square was the bustling center of Rome's import-export industry,…
Listen in the app5Insulae and the Thermopolium — Daily Life and Fast Food1:40
To understand how the majority of Romans lived, we must look at the apartment blocks, or 'insulae,' such as the House of Diana. These three to five-story buildings are typical of a high-density urban environment like Ostia or…
Listen in the app6The Bakery and Grain Mills — Industrial Scale Production1:37
In a city of thousands, the production of bread was an industrial necessity, and the 'pistrinum' or bakery near the grain stores illustrates this process vividly. Ostia was famous for the quality of its bread, which was a staple…
Listen in the app7The Forum and the Capitolium — Civic Pride in Brick1:37
The Forum of Ostia was the civic and religious heart of the town, a grand square where the power of Rome was physically manifested. Dominating the space is the Capitolium, a massive temple dedicated to the Capitoline Triad:…
Listen in the app8The Public Latrines — Hygiene and Parasites1:37
Perhaps one of the most fascinating glimpses into Roman daily life is the public latrine, located conveniently near a bath complex. The Roman approach to hygiene was both advanced and remarkably public; these facilities featured…
Listen in the app9Closing1:25
Our journey concludes at the necropolis, located outside the city gates along the main road leading back toward Rome. For the Romans, the tomb was a vital continuation of one's identity; the dead hoped to be commemorated and fed…
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What is Ostia?
Ostia is a place in Roma Capitale with 9 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Roma Capitale |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 9 |
| Total length | 15 min 24 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 41.7542, 12.2875 |
| Last updated |