In Ostia many small travertine stones can be seen in the facades of buildings. In this episode the function of the stones is discussed. Use the controls (bottom right) to go to HD and to turn subtitles (in various languages) on or off. Credits for the subtitles: Gregor Utz (German), Ines Tescione (Italian), Simon Dienst (French). Dutch subtitles: Jan Theo Bakker. English subtitles: Jan Theo Bakker and Gerard Huissen.
A Roman bakery explained (2013).
In this episode a bakery in Ostia is explained: the grain supply, millstones, kneading machines and oven, but also a shrine in which the Emperor Caracalla was worshipped. Use the controls (bottom right) to go to HD and to turn subtitles (in various languages) on or off. Credits for the subtitles: Ines Tescione (Italian), Simon Dienst (French), Gregor Utz (German). Dutch subtitles: Jan Theo Bakker. English subtitles: Jan Theo Bakker and Gerard Huissen.
Ancient graffiti (2016).
In this episode Eric Taylor and I talk about the graffiti in Ostia: Eric located many published graffiti and discovered countless new graffiti, both texts and drawings.
The excavations in old photos (2017).
I made a short compilation of some old photos of the excavations, from the 1930s and 1940s. These were kindly provided by the Soprintendenza.
Dating brick (2022).
In this episode Thea Heres and Jan Theo Bakker discuss the dating of walls in Ostia. Thea Heres is the author of "Paries. A Proposal for a Dating System of Late-Antique Masonry Structures in Rome and Ostia (A.D. 235-600)", Amsterdam 1982. She is one of the main contributors of "Amoenissima Civitas. Block V,ii at Ostia: Description and Analysis of Its Visible Remains", Assen 1985.
Interview (2021).
Interview with Jan Theo Bakker by Aldo Marinelli and Laura Nicotra of "La mia Ostia". The interview took place online on May 13, 2021.
A movie of Portus (2008).
A long time ago, during a visit to Portus with my sons, my younger son used an old and heavy video camera.
The same movie of Portus, but now with the original sound included.