Introduction
The north-west part of the excavations, of what the excavators have called regions I and III, confronts us with virtually all aspects of the study of Ostia. Many tourists visit this area, strolling through the House of Serapis, the Baths of the Seven Sages and the House of the Charioteers. The excavated area ends here. On top of a little unexcavated hill stands a small modern shed - an observation post for the custodians? But a living soul has never been seen inside. Here I will present an overview of the area, including several uncertainties in the interpretation; making those a challenge is surely better than tucking them away in a corner.
The House of Bacchus and Ariadne at the end of the excavated area, with the little shed.
Photo: Klaus Heese.In the early third century Minucius Felix recorded a discussion between a pagan philosopher and two Christian converts. They walked through Ostia to the beach. This means that they either followed the Road of the River Mouth, passing through the area, or another road that can also be followed today, leading to the impressive ruins of the Baths of the Marine Gate. Now the philosopher, "observing an image of Serapis, raised his hand to his mouth, as is the custom of the superstitious common people, and pressed a kiss on it with his lips".
The image of the Egyptian deity Serapis that was saluted by the philosopher may not have been far away from the House of Serapis, which lies on the Road of the River Mouth. Egyptian deities are documented extensively in and around it. In the courtyard of the House of Serapis is a shrine containing a stucco relief of the deity. A bit further on is a temple of Serapis, a Serapeum. Amongst the rubble of a porticus along the road, between the house and the temple, a depiction of Apis was found, a sacred bull, son of Hathor. Are we in an Egyptian or Greek-speaking district of Ostia?
A depiction of Apis, found in the porticus along the Road of the River Mouth.
Photo: Archivio Fotografico Ostia, neg. B 706.The ancient text illustrates what can be still be seen in the ruins of Ostia: through reliefs and niches with statuettes in the facade, buildings were placed under the protection of deities. An example of such a niche can be seen in a corner pier of one of the buildings in our area, the House of Annius. There are good reasons to think that this building was owned by an entrepreneur named Annius Serapiodorus, "Gift of Serapis". His name was stamped on many oil lamps that were manufactured in Ostia. But let's have a brief look at the excavations first.
A niche high up in a corner pier of the House of Annius.
Photo: Jan Theo Bakker.
