Back to homepage       OSTIA      TOPOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY
In this section you will find extensive descriptions of all buildings, accompanied by plans, photographs and reconstruction drawings.
Contents
[Text menu]
 Regions I and IIRegions I and II
Regions III and IVRegions III and IV
Region VRegion V
Porta Romana necropolisPorta Romana necropolis
Porta Laurentina necropolisPorta Laurentina necropolis
TrastevereTrastevere
The area to the southThe area to the south and east

[Clickable plans]
 General planGeneral plan
Regio IRegio I
Regio IIRegio II
Regio IIIRegio III
Regio IVRegio IV
Regio VRegio V

[Topics]
 BakeriesBakeries
ChristianityChristianity
City wallsCity walls
Fire-brigadeFire-brigade
FulleriesFulleries
MintHouses and apartments
MintMint
MithraeaMithraea
Mystery of he round buildingMystery of the round building
PaintingsPaintings: the preservation
PaintingsPaintings: an ancient showroom
Private religionPrivate religion
MintShops and bars
Store buildingsStore buildings
Tiber ferriesTiber ferries
TombsTombs
TravertineTravertine
Water supplyWater supply

[Tools]
 Building glossaryBuilding glossary
Chronological indexChronological index
List of EmperorsList of Emperors
PresentationPresentation

Buildings

The excavators have divided Ostia into five regions, numbered I to V. Within the regions blocks (insulae) and individual buildings have been distinguished, numbered as follows: (region) I, (block) I, (building) 1, etcetera.

The Topographical Dictionary of the five regions can be accessed in two ways. If you are not yet very familiar with the topography of Ostia, we suggest that you discover the city using the text menu. If you know your way around, then you may prefer to use the clickable plans. Please note however, that some buildings and structures are not recognized easily on the plans. Others are not clickable at all, for example buildings in unexcavated areas, found during recent geophysical research.

Topics

A number of topics is discussed. These will help you to get familiar with a category of buildings, or a subject. So, for example, the topic "Mithraea" includes a short introduction to the cult of Mithras, and a distribution map of and links to all Ostian mithraea.

Tools

In the "Building glossary" you will find a short description of building and decoration techniques: "opus latericium", "opus mixtum", "opus sectile" etcetera. The "Chronological index" contains the dating of Ostian buildings by the excavators, in 1954. Of course recent research has often suggested new dates. Finally, you will find a list of Roman Emperors.