Tombs
Recent geophysical research and aerial photographs (Keay 2005) provided much information about the area to the east of Portus. It was for the most part used as a necropolis, witness the find of many human bones and fragments of sarcophagi. Tombs and mausolea were also built near the Tiber. The area is traversed by a very wide road (15-30 m.) to the north of the Via Portuensis. Also near the Tiber, to the east of the aqueduct, a few warehouses and temples have been identified.
Back to indexBasilica of Eutropius, Bonosa and Zosima
This is a basilica built at the site of the tombs of three martyrs. The place of discovery of two inscriptions and an ancient text indicate that it was to the east of Portus, at a distance of c. 1.5 kilometres, near the junction of the Fossa Traiana and the Tiber (Capo due rami). It was built at the end of the fourth century by a bishop named Donatus. The inscriptions (Thylander B234 and B235; found between 1836 and 1858) have the text:
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SANCTIS MARTYRIBVS ET BEATI[ssimis] EVTROPIO BONOSAE ET ZOSIM[e] DONATVS EPISC(opus) TVMVLVM ADO[rnavit] SED ET BASILICAM CONI[un]CTAM [TVMVLO] A FVNDAMENTIS SANCTAE [ple]BI D[ei construxit] |
"Bishop Donatus decorated the tomb for the holy and most blessed martyrs Eutropius, Bonosa and Zosime, and he also built a basilica for the holy people of God, next to the tomb, from the foundations".
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ACCIPE ME DIXIT DOMIN[e in tua limina, Christe] EXAVDITA CITO FRVITV[r modo lumine caeli] ZOSIME SANCTA SOROR M[agno defuncta periclo] IAM VIDET ET SOCIOS SANC[ti certaminis omnes] LAETATVRQVE VIDENS MIRA[ntes sistere circum] MIRANTVRQVE PATRES TAN[ta virtute puellam] QVAM SVO DE NVMERO CVPIE[ntes esse vicissim] CERTATIMQVE TENENT ATQV[e amplectuntur ovantes] IAM VIDET ET SENTIT MAGNI [spectacula regni] ET BENE PRO MERITIS GAVDET SIBI PRAEMIA REDDI TECVM PAVLE TENENS CALCATA MORTE CORONAM NAM FIDE SERVATA CVRSVM CVM PACE PEREGIT |
"Welcome me, she said, in your house, my Lord Christ. Listened to immediately, she already enjoyed the light of heaven, Zosime, the holy sister, after having triumphed from a great danger. Already she sees all the comrades in the holy struggle and she is happy, seeing that they are standing around her, admiring. And the fathers admire this girl, who is so virtuous. They desire that now she belongs to them, and eagerly they hold and embrace her, triumphantly. Already she sees and is experiencing the spectacles of the great kingdom, and happily she receives the well-deserved rewards. With you, Paul, she holds the crown, having conquered death. Because she kept her faith and completed her journey in peace".
Two further martyrs, probably from Portus, are mentioned in an inscription on a marble sarcophagus that is now in the monastery of S. Paolo fuori le Mura (Thylander B249, fourth century or first half of the fifth century):
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DEO PATRI OMNIPOTEN TI ET XRO EIUS E[t] SANCTIS MARTYRIBVS [t]AVRINO ET HERCVLAN[o o]MNI ORA GRATIA[s agi]MVS NEVIVS ZAR[istus et] CONSTANI[a marty] RIA SIBI FE[cerunt] |
"Every hour we thank God, our omnipotent father, and his Christ, and the holy martyrs Taurinus and Herculanus. Nevius Zaristus and Constantia (?) made the martyrium for them".
Christian churches that were probably built in the fourth and fifth century, but have not yet been found are S. Maria, S. Lorenzo, S. Pietro, and S. Ninfa. Churches of S. Gregorio, S. Teodoro, and S. Vito were built in the sixth and seventh century.
Back to indexSalt pans
Important salt pans were located to the east of Ostia and to the north-east of Portus. In antiquity the latter area was called Campus salinarum Romanarum ("Field of the Roman salt pans"). It is mentioned in this inscription from the years 214-217 AD, found in Portus (CIL XIV, 4285):
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PRO SALVTE IMPP(eratorum) SEVERI ET ANTONINI AVGG(ustorum) ET [[Ge]]TAE NOBILISSIMI CAESARIS ET IVLIAE AVG(ustae) M(atris) AVGG(ustorum) ET CASTR(orum) GENIO SACCARIORVM SALARIOR(um) TOTIVS VRBIS CAMP(i) SAL(inarum) ROM(anarum) RESTITVTIANVS CORNE LIANVS DE XVI A«b» AERARIO ET ARK(arius) SAL(inarum) ROM«anarum» CVM INGENVA FILIA DONVM DEDIT DEDICANTIBVS SALLVSTIO SATVRNINO ET ORFITO PROCC(uratoribus) AVGG(ustorum) NN(ostrorum) |
It is a dedication by Restitutianus Cornelianus for the well-being of Septimius Severus, his wife Iulia Domna and their children Caracalla and Geta, also dedicated to the Genius (the protective deity) of the salt-sack men (sack carriers) of the whole city, of the field of the salt pans. Another (unpublished) inscription from 135 AD mentions conductores campi salinarum romanarum, i.e. contractors.
Map of Portus (G.B. Cingolani, "Topografia geometrica dell'Agro Romano", 1774).
Salt pans are indicated to the north-east of Portus and to the east of mediaeval Ostia,
near two swamps, the Stagno di Ponente and Stagno di Levante (north is to the left).
[jthb - 22-May-2009]