Documentary on Ostia's History Premieres on Sky Arte
The documentary 'Ostia – Sulle sponde della storia' airs on Sky Arte on Friday, January 3, tracing the history of the ancient Roman city. Ostia began as Rome's first colony at the Tiber's mouth, seizing Etruscan salt pans and becoming the empire's Mediterranean gateway. Initially a military outpost, it developed a river port and later grand maritime ports under Claudius and Trajan. Unlike Pompeii and Herculaneum, which were frozen by Vesuvius in 79 AD, Ostia was gradually buried by river debris, preserving its urban fabric. The city was multicultural and multiethnic, with women enjoying high social status and slaves able to achieve emancipation. Archaeologists present the art, architecture, and daily life, revealing recent discoveries that show Portus, the Isola Sacra necropolis, and Ostia formed an integrated urban unit.
Key facts
- Documentary 'Ostia – Sulle sponde della storia' airs on Sky Arte on Friday, January 3.
- Ostia was Rome's first colony, founded at the Tiber's mouth.
- The city controlled Etruscan salt pans and became the empire's Mediterranean outlet.
- Ostia had a river port and later maritime ports under Claudius and Trajan.
- Unlike Pompeii and Herculaneum, Ostia was slowly buried by river debris.
- Ostia was a multicultural city with high social status for women and emancipation for slaves.
- Recent research shows Portus, Isola Sacra necropolis, and Ostia were an integrated urban unit.
- Archaeologists working on site present the findings.
Entities
Institutions
- Sky Arte
- Artribune
Locations
- Ostia
- Rome
- Tiber
- Mediterranean
- Portus
- Isola Sacra
- Pompeii
- Herculaneum
- Vesuvius