The Seat of the Hastiferi, the lance-bearers, is situated to the east of the Field of the Magna Mater (nr. 5 on the plan). These lance-bearers were worshippers of Bellona, who had a temple to the west of the seat. They may have performed ritual war dances.
The seat is to the north-west of an open space with a brick porticus on the north-east side. The entrance has of a porch with five marble steps and two marble columns. The seat consists of a hall (c. 5.50 x 5.50). Masonry bases were set against the back wall. The floor and walls were decorated with opus sectile. The building is probably Hadrianic.
Plan of the east part of the temple-complex of the Magna Mater.
From Vermaseren 1977, fig. 24.An inscribed marble altar was found in front of the seat:
NVMINI DOM(us)
AVG(ustae) SACR(um)
L(ucius) LAELIVS SP(urii) F(ilius)
HERENNIANVS
SCRIBA CERARIVS
COLLEGIO
HASTIFOR(um)
OSTIENSIVM
S(ua) P(ecunia) D(ono) D(edit)To the divine majesty of the house
of the Emperor dedicated.
Lucius Laelius, son on Spurius,
Herennianus,
scribe of the wax tablets,
in the guild
of the lance-bearers
of Ostia
donated at his own expense.EDR073669. Photo: EDCS. Other inscriptions mentioning the Hastiferi were found in the neighbourhood.
