Mooring and unloading

In Portus a freighter's final destination was either in the basin of Claudius, or in the hexagonal basin of Trajan beyond, or along the quay of one of several channels. The captains knew where to go, or pilots were brought on board. From ancient literature and inscriptions we learn that all kinds of small auxiliary vessels were active in the basins. To get an idea of their activities it would be useful to look at the activity in harbours from a much later period, before the Industrial Revolution.

A mosaic showing a cargo ship with the loading and unloading of wild animals. Villa del Casale, Sicily. Photo: Wikimedia, Yann.

The ships were moored with ropes passed through holes in large travertine mooring blocks. Around the basin of Trajan were columns with Latin numerals, pointing to a subdivision into numbered sectors. On the quays was a wall, with five narrow doorways on each side of the hexagon. This wall made it possible to control the flow of goods, to levy import duties and to detect smuggling. An inscription from the fourth century documents an official who was responsible for the functioning and maintenance of the moles and the lighthouse, and for dredging.

Aerial view of Trajan's hexagonal basin. Photo: Portus Project.

For the unloading of heavy and large objects, such as marble and wood, cranes were used. The objects were then taken to open areas, covered at most by a wooden roof. Wild animals were transported to a vivarium to the south of Ostia or near Rome, on carts pulled by oxen.

Reconstruction of a cargo ship and a crane. Image: Altair4 Multimedia.

Other goods were carried by porters to warehouses called horrea along the harbour basins and on the banks of the Tiber. Due to the use of warehouses in the ports, there was no dependence on transport to Rome: this could take place when it was deemed necessary, at its own pace.

A relief depicting the unloading of a ship by porters. Museo Torlonia, inv. nr. 428. Photo: Pavolini 1986, fig. 26.

After unloading, preparations for the return journey took place. If necessary, maintenance was carried out on the sails or the keel. The ships needed ballast, for which sand seems to have been used. After taking on board fresh water and food, the return journey could be started, weather permitting.