Ostia Antica - Strolling the Decuman
by Debra Martz
Title
Ostia Antica - Strolling the Decuman
Artist
Debra Martz
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Ostia Antica - Strolling the Decuman by Debra Martz
(Ostia Antica is near Rome, Italy and easily accessed by train.)
After passing through the gate you are on the main street of Ostia, the Decumanus Maximus (aka Decuman). It is the continuation of the road that led from Rome to Ostia. The Decuman, was about nine meters wide and almost two kilometers long. The street is paved with ancient basalt blocks. A few very shallow wheel-ruts (not in this image) can be seen between the gate and the theatre, the only wheel-ruts in Ostia. This indicates that further transport of goods was done by slaves or pack-animals, not with wagons.
Ostia was founded around the 4th century BC by King Anco Marzio and it became the harbor of Rome, situated at the mouth of the Tiber. Throughout the following centuries, a flourishing trade and business center developed. Following the Barbarian invasions, the decline of Ostia began when the port was abandoned and became covered by silt over time.
The archaeological excavations undertaken at the beginning of the 1900's have brought the ancient city back to light, a rare witness to 900 years of Roman civilization.
©Debra Martz, All Rights Reserved
In My Gallery/Collection: Italy
Uploaded
March 27th, 2015
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Viewed 2,720 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/23/2024 at 1:33 AM
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Comments (116)
Jim Cook
Great photo and description that makes me think of the many people who viewed this same scene in their lifetime. l,f
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