Introduction
In 235 AD the last Severan Emperor, Alexander Severus, was killed, together with his mother, Julia Mamaea. A crucial period in Roman history now began, the Age of the Soldier Emperors. It is characterized by a deep political, economical and military crisis. It would even witness the building of a new city wall around Rome itself, by Aurelian. The number of Christians increased, silently until the tolerance of the Edict of Milan of 313 AD. Here we will have a look at the years 235-305 AD
The map below shows the third century dates that were assigned to buildings in 1954. Important new proposals were made by Thea Heres, especially in her book Paries, published in 1982, and through her contribution to the detailed study of block II in region V by Hans Boersma and others (Amoenissima Civitas, 1985). Carlo Pavolini dedicated several articles to this period in Ostia, published after the work by Heres.
Click to enlarge.
Map of Ostia with buildings from the Severan period (193-235 AD; hatched) and the later third century (cross-hatched).The number of non-funerary inscriptions from the later third century is small (see the appendix below). What survives should be used with much caution. Because the sample is small, coincidence plays a bigger role than before.
List of members of a guild, drawn up during the consulship of Emperor Gallienus and Nummius Faus(t)ianus, 262 AD.
Re-used in the Baths of the Forum. EDR110173, CIL XIV Suppl., 5357. Photo: ICCD N005444.
Appendix
Overview of (more or less) accurately dated, non-funerary inscriptions from Ostia and Portus, from the years 235-305 AD.
Years
From
Object
Contents
EAGLE ID
235-300
Ostia
Marble slab
Album of the corpus stuppatorum. Includes Fructosus Senior and [Fru]ctose.
235-300
Ostia, Via del Tempio Rotondo
Marble epistylium
Installation of a mithraeum by Fructosus, patron of the corpus s[tuppatorum].
238-244
Ostia, re-used in the Christian Basilica on the Pianabella
Marble slab
Dedication to Gordianus III.
238-244
Ostia, Basilica I,II,3
Marble base
Dedication to Gordianus III by the corpus traiectus Luculli.
238-244
Portus
Unknown
Greek dedication to Agathe Tuche for Gordianus III by the city of Gaza.
239, February 4
Ostia, Barracks of the Fire Brigade
Marble base
Dedication of a statue to Gordianus III by the vigiles.
239, March 12
Ostia
Marble base, later re-used
Dedication to an unknown person by a guild.
239-250
Ostia
Marble slab
Semi-funerary inscription. Dedication of a statue by the ordo Augustalium to someone who was involved with the corpus traiectus R̀£usticeli.
241-244
Ostia, Barracks of the Fire Brigade
Marble base
Dedication to Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, wife of Gordianus III by the vigiles.
241-244
Ostia, Round Temple
Marble base
Dedication to Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, wife of Gordianus III.
241-244
Ostia, re-used in the pavement of the Schola of Trajan
Marble slab
Dedication to Furia Sabinia Tranquillina, wife of Gordianus III.
242, September 6
Ostia, on the Decumanus between Via dei Molini and the forum.
Marble cippus
Dedication to an unknown person by a guild.
243
Ostia, re-used in the Baths of the Forum
Marble slab
Album of a guild. Including Caius Veturius Testius Amandus?
245-247
Ostia, re-used in the Christian Basilica on the Pianabella
Marble slab
Fragment of the fasti of the collegium Volkani.
247, May 18
Portus
Marble base
Dedication to Lucius Mussius Aemilianus by the codicarii navicularii et quinque corporum navigantes.
249, March 1
Ostia, Square of the Corporations
Marble base
Dedication by the corpus mensorum frumentariorum to Publius Flavius Priscus, their patron.
249-251
Ostia, below Via dei Romagnoli, to the east of the Porta Laurentina necropolis
Marble slab
Dedication to Herennia Cupressenia Etruscilla, wife of Decius.
250-260
Ostia, re-used in the Baths of the Forum
Marble slab
Dedication to Marcus Aurelius Hermogenes by the ordo decurionum.
251
Ostia or Portus
Travertine base
Semi-funerary inscription. Dedication by Flavius Moschylus of a statue of Decimus Fabius Florus Veranus, priest of Isis, on a spot provided by the ordo decurionum.
251-253
Ostia, Via dei Vigili
Lead water pipe
Stamp with the names of Trebonianus Gallus and Volusianus.
251-253
Ostia, campus of the Magna Mater
Marble slab
Record of a taurobolium for Trebonianus Gallus and Volusianus.
251-300
Ostia, Shrine of Attis
Marble slab
Dedication by Virius Marcarianus to Cybele.
251-300
Ostia, campus of the Magna Mater
Marble statuette
Dedication by Virius Marcarianus to Cybele.
252-253
Ostia, below Via dei Romagnoli, to the east of the Porta Laurentina necropolis
Marble slab
Dedication to Volusianus.
253-260
Ostia, road behind the Small Market and on the Decumanus between Via dei Molini and the forum
Marble slab
Honorary inscription for the pantomime Marcus Aurelius Pylades.
253-260
Ostia, Decumanus between Via dei Molini and the forum
Marble slab
Honorary inscription for the pantomime Marcus Aurelius Pylades, set up by the ordo Augustalium.
254
Ostia
Marble slab
Dedication to Valerianus and Gallienus.
254-255 or 257, May 25
Ostia, re-used in the House of Jupiter the Thunderer and in a room on the Cardo near the Shrine of Attis
Marble base
Semi-funerary inscription. Mentions the collegium fabrum tignuariorum Ostiensium as beneficiary. By Caius Iulius Cocilius Hermes?
254-268
Ostia, re-used in the Baths of the Forum
Marble slab
Dedication to Salonina, wife of Gallienus, by Flavius Priscus.
256, January 13
Ostia, campus of the Magna Mater
Marble base
Semi-funerary inscription. Dedication of a statue of the Magna Mater by Caius Iulius Cocilius Hermes. Mentions the collegium fabrum tignuariorum Ostiensium as beneficiary. Might mention the decurions.
256-258
Ostia, Round Temple
Marble base
Dedication to Valerianus II by the Ostienses.
262
Ostia, re-used in the Baths of the Forum
Marble slab
Album of a guild.
262-263
Ostia, re-used in the Baths of the Forum
Marble slab
Dedication to Gallienus in relation to his decennalia by universi cives Ostienses.
271-300
Ostia, behind the Temple of the Magna Mater
Marble slab
The dendrophori Ostienses rebuilt their schola and dedicated it to the numen of the Imperial house.
276-282
Ostia
Unknown
Record of building activity by Probus, who repaired a ruined building, through a praefectus annonae.
281
Baths of the Porta Marina
Marble base
Dedication to Probus.
285
Ostia
Marble base
Dedication to Diocletianus by the fabri tignuarii.
286-305
Ostia
Marble base
Dedication to Maximianus.
286-305
Ostia, re-used in the theatre
Marble epistylium
Work by Diocletianus and Maximianus.
286-305
Ostia, Forum of the Heroic Statue
Marble base
Dedication to Maximianus
286-312
Ostia, near the Capitolium
Marble slab
Dedication to Maximianus or his son Maxentius.
287
Ostia, Pianabella
Marble slab
Dedication to a pontifex Volkani et aedium sacrarum.
288-293
Ostia
Marble slab
Dedication to Diocletianus.
297
Ostia, Curia
Marble slab
List of quinquennales.
