A Sea of Mosaics (Roma part Nove)

Ostia Antica - the ancient port of the Roman Empire.

About an hour’s train ride from the pyramid in Rome, we stepped into something quite similar to Pompeii: the ruins of a port city, the gateway for the thousands of tons of wheat, olive oil and other comestibles needed to feed the people of Rome: Ostia.

Originally situated on the coast, it now lies several kilometres inland, as the sea receded, just like Pompeii and Herculaneum, both former coastal towns.

The difference between Ostia and Pompeii:  Ostia was an important centre for the business of shipping, both commercial and naval (it was the main seaport for the Roman navy). Pompeii was an upscale town of 10 - 20 thousand people.  At its height, Ostia’s population was 100,000.

There are no roofs left in Ostia, but that makes for the opportunity to see the vast ‘sea’ of floors that are all mosaic:

It was almost as if every single building or dwelling had a mosaic floor.  

There is a large amphitheatre, a forum, a columbarium (burial wall),

 a fast food stall complete with fresco displaying food,

a bar,

bibe means 'drink' in Latin

even a public latrine 

More than 26 bath complexes were found with appropriately water-themed mosaic floors:

The main port’s commercial complex is laid out in a giant square surrounding a temple with shops and supporting enterprises fronting all four sides of the giant piazza.  Each has its own mosaic floor that depicts the business.  

baker

conveyance from port to city

ship builder

Ostia Antica was not buried under volcanic pyroclastic flow, boiling mud or basaltic rubble as were both Pompeii and Herculaneum. It was simply abandoned when the port itself silted up so that it was no longer navigable.