Regio III - Insula I - Terme della Basilica Cristiana (III,I,2-3)
(Baths of the Christian Basilica)The Baths of the Christian Basilica were built during the reign of Trajan (opus latericium). Restorations took place in the early third century AD. It is not known whether it was related to the adjacent Christian building.
The interior was reached from Via della Foce to the east, through a long and narrow corridor (1), flanked by the rooms of Caseggiato III,I,1. The corridor leads to a courtyard, possibly a small palaestra (2).
Plan of the baths. After SO I.Behind the courtyard is a room with benches (3). The rooms in the west part of the building are arranged around a hall (4). In the centre of the hall is a fountain with semicircular niches on the outside, decorated with marble. In this hall is a cast of a statue of a female figure with a cornucopiae, probably a statue of Fortuna, found in room C of the Christian Basilica. To the east is a frigidarium with a large basin (5). On the floor is a black-and-white mosaic from the early third century. Depicted are marine monsters carrying Nereids and an amorino (of the latter figure only a leg has been preserved). To the west are three heated rooms, with suspensurae (6) that would later become part of the Christian Basilica. The praefurnia (7) are nearby, next to a cistern (8). In room 9 are remains of a painting of green vegetation on a red background. Along the Decumanus four shops were built.
Photos
Hall 4 seen from the south-west. Photo: Philipp Markus Schmitt.
Hall 4 seen from the south-east. Photo: Philipp Markus Schmitt.
The statue of Fortuna.
Museo Ostiense, inv. nr. 1265. Photo: CGBC 1200003988.
Hall 4, detail of the fountain.
Photo: Daniel González Acuña.
Palaestra 2 seen from frigidarium 5. Photo: Philipp Markus Schmitt.
The mosaic in frigidarium 5. SO IV, Tav. CXLI.
Painting from the baths.
Museo Ostiense, inv. nrs. 10080. Photo: ICCD E040819.
Paintings from the baths.
Museo Ostiense, inv. nrs. 10081, 10082. Photo: ICCD E040822.
