Ostia Antica...

One sunny and warm afternoon I hopped on the train and went to Ostia Antica for the afternoon. Ostia Antica is located at the mouth of the Tiber River just a 30 minute trip from Rome. The city is very ancient but the remaining buildings are from the 3rd -4th century. The city was developed first for defense and then later used as a commercial harbor.




(Pic 1) shows the theater.


(Pic 2) is a view from the outside of the theater.







(Pic 3) shows a littler girl in front of the stage where the choir sat entertaining the tourists that were sitting down taking a rest.











(Pic 4) shows some of the coffins that were resting in the cemetery outside of the city walls.







(Pic 5) shows the gym. Boy!...those ancient Romans were really into fitness! Every ancient city I've visited had a gym. Now you'd be hard pressed to find a fitness center in modern day Rome...and it is even harder to find an Italian that goes. They believe in a more relaxed lifestyle. You can tell by my fitness room in my house that collects dust....I'm with that!



Tee Hee Hee! I found the communal latrines. I guess it was normal to socialize while using the facilities. (Pic 6)







(Pic 7) shows where water flowed through the gutters in the floor. I have to say I was just a little bit grossed out when they told me that the people passed around a sponge on a stick that was "refreshed" by dipping it in the water flowing through the gutters before each use. Ewww!!








Check out the beautiful mosaic floors in the Neptune baths...beautiful! (Pic 8)











(Pic 9) more beautiful mosaics.








I walked up the stairs of the Capitulum. You can't really tell by the picture but it is quite tall and large. (Pic 10)










(Pic 11) At the top of the Capitulum there was some beautiful pink and blue marble from Africa.






After I caught my breath from climbing all of the stairs of the Capitulum, I turned around and snapped this shot. (Pic 12)











Here is picture behind the bar of one of their restaurants. (Pic 13)








You can still imagine all the treats that were probably lined up on these shelves...olives, wine etc. (Pic 14)










Here is the grand entrance to the main thermal baths. (Pic 15)











It isn't hard to imagine bathers resting on this bench in this hot room. (Pic 16) Women also used the thermal baths. They found many bone pins used to put up their hair.




Tourists walking down the main drag. (Pic 17) I have to admit. I did learn to walk in high heels on Italy's cobblestones but my feet still haven't gotten used to walking on cobblestones day after day after day...and I've done a lot of walking!









A beautiful winged goddess...she actually has on battle gear including a helmet. She must have been a tough cookie! (Pic 18)









(Pic 18 & 19) shows some of the statues.