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THE EXCAVATIONS FOR THE WORLD EXHIBITION IN ROME: 1938 - 1942

About two-thirds of the ruins of Ostia that can be seen today were excavated in the years 1938-1942. The initiator was Mussolini, who wanted to present Ostia during a World Fair in Rome, the Esposizione Universale di Roma (EUR). Due to the war, it would not take place.



Plan of Ostia with a colour-coded indication of the dates of the excavations.
Blue: pre-20th century; yellow: 1900-1938; red: 1938-1942.
The colour coding was done by Michael Heinzelmann.

The work did not differ much from the earlier papal excavations. More than 600.000 cubic metres of earth were removed, that had reached a height of 4 to 12 metres above the ancient street level. Some 150 labourers worked, basically, with the equipment from the early twentieth century.

Needless to say that much information was not recorded during these five years. For example, the excavation and restoration of the Baths of the Seven Sages and the adjacent House of Serapis, between 1935 and 1940, is documented almost exclusively through many photos. The Giornale degli Scavi lists the major finds, with a rough indication of the place of discovery.

The photos of the excavations illustrate the tremendous effort that was needed to clear, preserve and restore the ruins. But an incredible amount of information was lost. Slow and accurate excavations would have provided a wealth of evidence about Ostia, especially about the third and fourth century.



Guido Calza in 1938. Photo: Parco Archeologico di Ostia.



The excavations of the Baths of the Seven Sages. Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia, neg. B 2525.



The excavations of the Baths of the Seven Sages. Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia, neg. B 2558.



The excavations of the Baths of the Seven Sages. Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia, neg. B 2569.



The excavations of the Baths of the Seven Sages. Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia, neg. B 2571.



The excavations of the Baths of the Seven Sages. Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia, neg. B 2579.



The excavations of the courtyard of the House of Serapis.
Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia, neg. B 2527.




The excavations of the courtyard of the House of Serapis.
Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia, neg. B 2547.




The courtyard as it appears today.