21st May 2026
Dr Sam Moorhead
About 18 miles west of Rome, at the mouth of the River Tiber, stand the impressive ruins of Ostia, Rome’s most important port. With wonderfully preserved streets, massive granaries and warehouses, tenement blocks (the best anywhere in the Roman Empire), grand town houses, bath-houses and taverns it was a city bustling with activity, attracting people from all over the Empire. This is shown by temples dedicated to numerous gods and goddesses, including the oriental deities Mithras, Cybele and Serapis. With many fine mosaics and wall paintings, the site rivals Pompeii and Herculaneum in its preservation.
