Living and Working with the Gods
On this page we present the full text of a study of private religion in Ostia: Jan Theo Bakker, Living and Working with the Gods. Studies of Evidence for Private Religion and its Material Environment in the City of Ostia, Amsterdam 1994 (ordering information: Brill - Leiden, The Netherlands).
Instead of the plates, new and better photos have been added. The list contains a few corrections, indicated in red. Some additional evidence is indicated in green. At the end of the page is an interview with the author in Dutch.
Photos
REGIO I REGIO II
- Caseggiato del Portico delle Mura del Castrum (I,I,4) - Wall-niche in a shop.
- The shop. The niche is in the back part of the left wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caseggiato del Portico delle Mura del Castrum (I,I,4) - Three wall-niches in a possible cult-room.
- The cult-room. The niches are in the centre of the left wall.
- The cult-room. The niches are in the centre of the left wall.
- Detail of the niches.
- Caseggiato del Termopolio (I,II,5) - Underground cult-room.
- Courtyard. To the right is a covered staircase leading to the cult-room.
- The staircase.
- Detail of painting on the ceiling of the staircase.
- Wall-niche in the cult-room.
- Wall-niche in the cult-room.
- Caseggiato del Termopolio (I,II,5) - Wall-niche.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caseggiato del Termopolio (I,II,5) - Floor-niche in a corridor.
- The corridor. The niche is to the left.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caseggiato dei Molini (I,III,1-2) - Tiny wall-niche in the kneading-room.
- The kneading-room. The niche is between the two piers protruding from the left wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caseggiato dei Molini (I,III,1-2) - Relief of Genius in the facade along Via dei Molini.
- Detail of the relief.
- Caseggiato dei Molini (I,III,1-2) - Statuette of a Lar Augusti, found in the large halls with millstones.
- The statuette (Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica).
- Casa di Diana (I,III,3-4) - Relief of Diana in the courtyard.
- The courtyard. The relief is in the front part of the left wall.
- Detail of the relief.
- Casa di Diana (I,III,3-4) - Three floor niches in the courtyard, on the first floor.
- Detail of the niches. The niches can also be seen on the picture of the courtyard, in the upper part of the back wall.
- Insula I,IV - Garden with pseudo-aedicula with statue of Jupiter.
- The garden.
- Detail of the pseudo-aedicula (during the excavation on November 10, 1919; Ostia neg. B389).
- Detail of the pseudo-aedicula (B&W; postcard E. Richter, Roma).
- Detail of the pseudo-aedicula (colour).
- The statue of Jupiter (in the pseudo-aedicula is a plaster cast; Ostia neg. C1712).
- Detail of the left part: place of attachment of some sort of door; eagle; garlands.
- Detail of painted eagle.
- Detail of the central part: remains of a superimposed layer of plaster (head with 'modius').
- Caseggiato dei Misuratori del Grano (I,VII,1) - Intarsio of Fortuna at the intersection of Via dei Misuratori del Grano and Via della Fortuna.
- The intersection of the two streets. The intarsio is high up in the wall, above the modern white sign.
- Detail of the intarsio.
- Piccolo Mercato (I,VIII,1) - Relief of snake (Genius Loci) in portico of courtyard.
- The courtyard. The relief is at the far left, below modern protection.
- Detail of the relief.
- A marble relief of two snakes was found somewhere in the same building (Ostia neg. C256).
- Horrea Epagathiana et Epaphroditiana (I,VIII,3) - Courtyard with two wall-niches.
- The courtyard (postcard E. Richter, Roma).
- Detail of left niche.
- Detail of right niche.
- Horrea Epagathiana et Epaphroditiana (I,VIII,3) - Two wall-niches in the vestibule.
- The northern niche, the northern niche.
- The southern niche.
- Horrea Epagathiana et Epaphroditiana (I,VIII,3) - Wall-niche in shop.
- The shop to the right of the entrance. The niche is to the right of the doorway in the left wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Horrea Epagathiana et Epaphroditiana (I,VIII,3) - Cas. I,VIII,4 - Stone slab in corridor.
- The corridor. The slab is in the centre of the left wall.
- Detail of the slab.
- Caseggiato I,VIII,5 - Wall-niches in five shops.
- The row of shops.
- First niche.
- Second niche.
- Third niche.
- Fourth niche.
- Fifth niche.
- Caseggiato del Larario (I,IX,3) - Wall-niche in courtyard.
- The niche seen through the entrance in the south wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Domus del Tempio Rotondo (I,XI,2) - Wall-niche and bench in possible cult-room.
- The room.
- Detail of the niche (1980's).
- Detail of the niche.
- Molino I,XIII,4 - Wall-niche behind basins (not discussed in the book).
- Basins in hall 8b. The curved niche can be seen top right.
- Domus delle Gorgoni (I,XIII,6) - Mosaic of gorgoneion.
- General view of the building.
- Detail of room and mosaic (photo Univ. of Leiden, Dept. of Archaeology).
- Caseggiato del Mosaico del Porto (I,XIV,2) - Wall-niche in shop with harbour-mosaic (the left shop).
- The shop. The niche is in the centre of the back wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caseggiato del Mosaico del Porto (I,XIV,2) - Wall-niche in shop (the right shop).
- The shop. The niche is to the left of the doorway in the back wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Blocked wall-niche: this blocked niche is in the reverse side of the wall with the current niche, precisely opposite the niche.
- Terme dei Cisiarii (II,II,3). I thought I had found a floor-niche in a possible cult-room. However, excavations in 1996 showed that this room contained a water-wheel.
- The room after the excavations.
- Terme dei Cisiarii (II,II,3) - Wall-niche in bar.
- The bar. The niche is in the back part of the right wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caserma dei Vigili (II,V,1) - Cas. II,V,2 - Floor-niche in one of the back rooms of the Caserma.
- General view of the room.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caserma dei Vigili (II,V,1) - Shrine of Fortuna in latrine (not discussed in the book).
- The latrine shortly after the excavation (from Notizie degli Scavi).
- General view of the latrine.
- Detail of the shrine.
- Altar of C. Valerius Myron.
- Caseggiato II,IX,2 - Wall-niche in shop.
- The shop. The niche is to the right of the doorway in the back wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Grandi Horrea (II,IX,7) - Wall-niche in the corridor along the front of the building.
- The front part of the building. The niche is in a pier at the far end.
- Detail of the niche.
REGIO III REGIO IV
- Caseggiato III,I,8 - Pseudo-aedicula in the central area.
- The central area. The pseudo-aedicula is set against the centre of the back wall.
- Detail of the pseudo-aedicula.
- Domus sul Decumano (III,II,3) - Cas. III,II,4 - Wall-niche in a jamb of the passage from the Domus to building 4.
- View from the Domus towards building 4. The jamb with the niche is to the right of the two columns.
- Detail of the niche.
- Horrea III,II,6 - Courtyard with wall-niche.
- The courtyard. The niche is towards the right.
- Detail of the niche.
- Casa delle Volte Dipinte (III,V) - Remains of protome in the facade, over the entrance to a staircase.
- General view of the staircase.
- Detail of the remains of the protome (stolen).
- Casa delle Volte Dipinte (III,V) - Floor-niche with altar on the landing of the staircase.
- Detail of the niche (the niche can also be seen on the general view of the staircase).
- Detail of the niche (seen from above).
- Casa delle Volte Dipinte (III,V) - Painting in a room converted to a bar.
- The room seen from the street.
- Detail of the painting.
- Domus del Ninfeo (III,VI,1) - Floor-niche below three windows in a representative room.
- The room (B&W; postcard E. Richter, Roma).
- The room (colour).
- Detail of the niche.
- Domus Fulminata (III,VII,3-4) - (Pseudo-?) aedicula, altar and lightning-monument in the courtyard.
- The courtyard. The altar etc. are in the centre of the back part.
- Detail of inlay in the top of a basin.
- Detail of inlay in the top of a basin.
- Detail of inlay in the top of a basin.
- Detail of the (pseudo-?) aedicula.
- Detail of the altar.
- Slab with inscription FDC (in modern base).
- Domus Fulminata (III,VII,3-4) - Two wall-niches in one of the rooms.
- The wall with the niches.
- Caseggiato III,VII,6 - Wall-niche in the south room.
- General view of the room.
- Detail of the niche.
- Domus dei Dioscuri (III,IX,1) - Three wall-niches.
- View through the entrance to the building. The niches are in the back wall.
- Detail of the niches.
- Domus delle Muse (III,IX,22) - Wall-niche in a shop.
- The shop. Seen from the street. The niche is in the centre of the right wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Detail of the niche (1980's).
- Painted figure in the niche.
- Caseggiato III,IX,25 - curious, shallow floor-niche in a shop.
- The shop. The niche is in the centre of the left wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caseggiato degli Aurighi (III,X,1) - Upper part of pseudo-aedicula in the courtyard.
- Detail of the pseudo-aedicula (probably from an upper floor).
- Caseggiato del Serapide (III,X,3) - Cult-room in the portico of the courtyard.
- The courtyard. The cult-room is to the right of the passage in the back wall (postcard E. Richter, Roma).
- The cult-room.
- Stucco-relief of Serapis in the cult-room (Ostia neg. B2549).
- Painting of Isis on the right wall.
- Painting of Isis-Fortuna on the left wall.
- Magazzino dei Doli (III,XIV,3) - Two wall-niches in the store-room.
- Back part of the store-room. One niche is on the far right, next to shrubs, the other somewhat to the left, next to an opening in the back wall.
- The niche towards the right.
- The niche towards the left.
- Caseggiato di Annio (III,XIV,4) - Wall-niche at the intersection of Via degli Aurighi and Via di Annio.
- The intersection of the two streets
- Detail of the niche
- Caseggiato di Annio (III,XIV,4) - Floor-niche.
- Detail of the niche.
- Detail of the upper part of the niche (painting and second, small niche in the floor-niche - a wasp nest?).
- Caseggiato III,XVI,6 - Intarsio of Apis found in a collapsed part of the portico running along Via della Foce.
- The intarsio (Ostia neg. B706).
- Domus del Serapeo (III,XVII,3) - Wall-niche in possible cult-room.
- The room. The niche is in the centre of the left wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Palazzo Imperiale (III) - Wall-niche.
- The wall with the niche.
- Detail of the niche.
- Terme del Faro (IV,II,1) - Floor-niche in a shop.
- The wall with the niche.
- Detail of the niche.
- Painting in the niche.
- Portico dell'Ercole (IV,II,2) - Relief of Hercules, apparently found among the rubble of the collapsed portico, now in modern masonry.
- The portico. The relief is high up in one of the piers on the left side.
- Detail of the relief.
- Caseggiato dell'Ercole (IV,II,2) - Wall-niche in the vestibule.
- Detail of the niche.
- Detail of the niche.
- Detail of the plaster in the niche.
- Caseggiato IV,II,5 - Paintings. Place of discovery corrected: Caseggiato dell'Ercole.
- Painting of Fortuna (ICCD neg. E040764).
- Painting of three divinities (ICCD neg. E40753).
- Caupona del Pavone (IV,II,6) - Pseudo-aedicula in the courtyard.
- The courtyard.
- The pseudo-aedicula.
- Painted peacock in the pseudo-aedicula.
- The same painting in the late 1960's (from Gasparri 1970).
- Painting on the side of the pseudo-aedicula.
- The same painting in the late 1960's (from Gasparri 1970).
- Caupona del Pavone (IV,II,6) - Wall-niche.
- The room with the niche.
- Detail of the niche.
- The same painting in the late 1960's (from Gasparri 1970).
- Domus delle Colonne (IV,III,1) - Two altars on a podium (aedicula?) in the portico of the courtyard.
- The portico of the courtyard.
- The altars.
- Domus della Nicchia a Mosaico (IV,IV,2) - Pseudo-aedicula in the courtyard.
- The courtyard.
- Detail of the pseudo-aedicula.
- Detail of the upper part of the pseudo-aedicula.
- Domus di Giove Fulminatore (IV,IV,3) - Mosaic of apotropaic phallus in the vestibule.
- View through the vestibule.
- Detail of the mosaic.
- Domus di Giove Fulminatore (IV,IV,3) - Three niches and podium in the room behind the courtyard.
- The room behind the courtyard (see also the view through the vestibule).
- Detail of the central niche.
- Altar with Greek inscription (referring to 'Giove Fulminatore').
- Base or altar with Greek inscription.
- Domus su Via del Tempio Rotondo ('Domus') (IV,IV,7) - Wall-niche.
- The room with the niche. The niche is in the centre of the back wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Insula del Viridario (IV,IV,9) - Pseudo-aedicula in the courtyard.
- The courtyard.
- Detail of the pseudo-aedicula.
- Detail of the pseudo-aedicula.
- Caseggiato del Sacello (IV,V,4) - Cult-room in the courtyard.
- The cult-room. Seen from the vestibule.
- Detail of the facade of the cult-room.
- Interior of the cult-room, back part.
- Interior of the cult-room, right part.
- Interior of the cult-room: paintings in recesses.
- Finds:
- Statue of Fortuna (?) (Ostia neg. B511).
- Bacchic herm (Ostia neg. ScT 87).
- Double herm: satyr (Ostia neg. ScT 88).
- Double herm: maenad (Ostia neg. ScT 88).
- Female head (Ostia neg. ScT 89).
- Caseggiato del Sacello (IV,V,4) - Wall-niche in the vestibule.
- Detail of the niche.
- Insula dell'Aquila (IV,V,8) - Wall-niche with cippus or altar.
- The room with the niche. The niche is in the centre of the right wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caseggiato IV,V,10 - Niche with podium in a bar.
- The bar. The niche is in the front part of the left wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caseggiato IV,VII,3 - Wall-niche.
- The room with the niche, seen from the outside. The upper part of the niche can just be seen in the centre of the picture.
- Entrance to the room.
- Detail of the niche.
REGIO V OTHER EVIDENCE
- Domus del Protiro (V,II,4-5) - Possible underground cult-room with niche and bench; part of an underground complex.
- Courtyard of the domus. The staircase leading to the underground complex is towards the left. The well with niches (see below) is below the metal grating towards the right.
- Floor-niche at the foot of the staircase.
- Floor-niche in the cult-room, near the entrance.
- Bench or wall-niche in the cult-room.
- Corridor: looking from the cult-room towards the well.
- Corridor: looking from the well towards the cult-room.
- Well surrounded by three niches.
- Blocked staircase opposite the well.
- Statue of Genius, found in this house (Ostia neg. C1595).
- Domus della Fortuna Annonaria (V,II,8) - Pseudo-aedicula in the courtyard.
- The courtyard. Seen through the main entrance to the house.
- Detail of the pseudo-aedicula.
- Domus della Fortuna Annonaria (V,II,8) - Wall-niche in an accentuated room.
- The room with the niche.
- Detail of the niche.
- Domus della Fortuna Annonaria (V,II,8) - Wall-niche.
- The room with the niche. The niche is in the left wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Caseggiato V,II,10 - Wall-niche.
- The room with the niche.
- Detail of the niche.
- Terme dell'Invidioso (V,V,2) - Relief of phallus and plummet in the facade.
- The facade. The relief is above the crumbled pier in the centre of the picture.
- Detail of the relief (1984).
- Detail of the relief (2007).
- Terme dell'Invidioso (V,V,2) - Blocked wall-niche in a room that was at some point in time a bar.
- The room. The niche is to the right of the door.
- Detail of the blocked niche.
- Caseggiato del Sole (V,VI,1) - Graffito referring to Sol.
- The room with the graffito. The graffito was scratched in the red plaster towards the left.
- Detail of the graffito.
- Mitreo dei Serpenti (V,VI,6) - Painting of Genius and snakes.
- The mithraeum. The painting is in the back part, towards the left (Ostia neg. B3142).
- Snake and Genius on the left wall.
- Detail of snake and Genius on the left wall.
- Detail of Genius on the left wall.
- Snake on the back wall.
- Detail of snake on the back wall.
- Domus V,VIII,2 - Wall-niche in the courtyard.
- The courtyard.
- Detail of the niche.
- Detail of pivot-hole (two pivot-holes in the slab below the niche testify to some sort of doors).
- Graffiti of dates in the upper part of the niche.
- Domus su Via degli Augustali (V,X,1) - Wall-niche.
- The room with the niche. The niche is in the back wall.
- Detail of the niche.
- Horrea di Hortensius (V,XII,1) - Cult-room in the colonnade of the courtyard.
- The cult-room.
- The floor of the cult-room.
- The cippus of Hortensius.
- Relief of Epona. Possibly from the facade of the Caseggiato dietro la Curia (I,IX,1),
- The relief (ICCD E027317).
- Appendix: a mosaic-niche with a depiction of Silvanus near the Mitreo del Palazzo Imperiale I.
- Detail of the mosaic-niche. Now in the Vatican Museums.
- The niche that contained the mosaic.
- Painting of a Genius and two snakes, place of discovery unknown (not discussed in the book).
- The painting (ICCD E040800).
- The painting after restoration (DAI 37.1485).
Interview
In Dutch: an interview with the author of the book, Jan Theo Bakker, by Nelleke Rademaker. The interview was aired on March 12 1994 by Teleac in the program Faros.