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Some reliefs of the harbour

A city plan

Below is a fragment of a marble plan of Portus (18 x 16.5 cm.). The fragment was reused in the tomb of Iulia Procula, in the Isola Sacra necropolis. The many holes were made when the fragment was reused. The length of facades is indicated by numbers: CLVII[..], CCXXIX, and C[....]. Two triangles represent staircases. The area that is depicted measures c. 41 x 37 metres.



Fragment of a marble plan of Portus.
Museum Ostia, inv. nr. 191. Photo: Rodriguez 2002, Tav. VI.

For some reason the fragment was used as the upper left part of the Greek funerary inscription shown below, so with Greek letters on the front side and the plan on the back side.



Greek funerary inscription found in the Isola Sacra necropolis, tomb 107.
Κύρι χαῖρε, κυρία χαῖρε
Museum Ostia, Galleria Lapidaria, inv. nr. 11243.
W. 0.23, h. 1.27, d. 0.19. EDR119597. Photo: Jan Theo Bakker.

Unloading a ship

This relief was found in Portus. Amphorae are being carried from a ship to the quay. The three seated persons seem to take notes about the cargo on wax tablets, joined together like a book. The first porter seems to receive some kind of token.



Relief depicting the unloading of a ship. From Pavolini 1986, fig. 26.

Unloading a ship

A scene similar to the one above is depicted on a Roman sarcophagus of which the provenance is unknown.



Sarcophagus sold by Christies in 2016.

Transportation of wild animals

A ship approaches the lighthouse of Portus. On board are lions in cages, destined for the amphitheatre.



Relief of a ship carrying lions, on a sarcophagus. Place of discovery unknown.
Villa Medici (rear facade), Rome. Photo: Pavolini 1986, fig. 27.

A bar

This relief is on a sarcophagus from the Isola Sacra necropolis. To the left a ship is approaching the lighthouse. It is accompanied by a small boat. To the right is a bar, where a woman and a man are being served. In the centre a dolphin is depicted, perhaps indicating the name of the bar.



Relief with a harbour scene and a bar, on a sarcophagus from the Isola Sacra necropolis.
Photo: ICCD E069953.