Ostia Antica. The old port to Rome, now found inland. This lovely place is often overlooked because Rome's airport is so close. See http://www.ostia-antica.org/intro.htm. Make the time for it. Spend the night near here. Quiet. Contemplative.
Ostia Antica, near Rome, Italy
This town 2000 years ago was on the coast, and was Rome's main port for some 600 years.
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This site calls it, "The Better Pompeii." See http://www.initaly.com/regions/latium/ostia.
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Ostia was hit by disease (malaria) and other towns became more prominent as Ostia became silted in. Waterways changed. The port finally silted over, and also silted over much of the town, preserving a great deal..
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Anecdotal Lydia! We meandered -- no fences, no ropes, and out and saw "Lydia's House" on the little sign. Climbed in and over the rocks, into a courtyard, to a room on the left - and suddenly there was the aroma of mint and more mint - and no mint to be found anywhere. Thank you, Lydia, for your home and your hospitality. I can smell it yet. A delight mid-afternoon. And where from?
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Ostia did produce at least one recipe still available, see the customary use of passum or raisin wine, possibly seen in a medieval church in Denmark, at Vetting Roots: Bjernede Church, Last Supper section, Passum and Ostian meatballs. Ancient Roman recipes: see http://www.ddvculinary.com/oldrecipes/ancient-rome/ostian-meat-balls.php
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Romans in cities - there were apartments, several stories high, around a central courtyard - brick-like, with shops on the bottom. The guidebook picture recreating the building of flats looks quite modern.
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Ostia is also known for Mithraism - a center for one of the major Roman Empire religions that flourished and became (as to cultural practices and many concepts) incorporated into the later Christian faiths. Read about Mithra - and the similarities and liturgical adoptions - at Bogomilia, A Site for the Unsung: Mithraism. Then go back to the Danish church, Bjernede and see the crescent on the headdress of St. Laurence. Syrian, Middle Eastern connections, all part of the Crusades, cultural crossovers.
Ostia Antica, near Rome, ItalyThis town 2000 years ago was on the coast, and was Rome's main port for some 600 years.
.
This site calls it, "The Better Pompeii." See http://www.initaly.com/regions/latium/ostia.
.
Ostia was hit by disease (malaria) and other towns became more prominent as Ostia became silted in. Waterways changed. The port finally silted over, and also silted over much of the town, preserving a great deal..
.
Anecdotal Lydia! We meandered -- no fences, no ropes, and out and saw "Lydia's House" on the little sign. Climbed in and over the rocks, into a courtyard, to a room on the left - and suddenly there was the aroma of mint and more mint - and no mint to be found anywhere. Thank you, Lydia, for your home and your hospitality. I can smell it yet. A delight mid-afternoon. And where from?
.
Ostia did produce at least one recipe still available, see the customary use of passum or raisin wine, possibly seen in a medieval church in Denmark, at Vetting Roots: Bjernede Church, Last Supper section, Passum and Ostian meatballs. Ancient Roman recipes: see http://www.ddvculinary.com/oldrecipes/ancient-rome/ostian-meat-balls.php
.
Romans in cities - there were apartments, several stories high, around a central courtyard - brick-like, with shops on the bottom. The guidebook picture recreating the building of flats looks quite modern.
.
Ostia is also known for Mithraism - a center for one of the major Roman Empire religions that flourished and became (as to cultural practices and many concepts) incorporated into the later Christian faiths. Read about Mithra - and the similarities and liturgical adoptions - at Bogomilia, A Site for the Unsung: Mithraism. Then go back to the Danish church, Bjernede and see the crescent on the headdress of St. Laurence. Syrian, Middle Eastern connections, all part of the Crusades, cultural crossovers.
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