Ostia was the port city of ancient Rome. Merchandise was unloaded here and placed on barges to be taken up the Tiber river to Rome. The river's bottom was too uneven for large ships to sail over. The city had 100,000 inhabitants at the peak of Rome's power. Claudius and Trajan enlarged and improved Ostia. Ostia had its own baths, theatre, temples and businesses. When Rome fell, so did Ostia. The city became overgrown and forgotten about. Excavations of Ostia began in the 19th century.
More Pictures from Ostia
(Barracks of Ostia's firefighters, ancient buildings of Ostia and an ancient snack bar)
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