Ostia- one of the most influential ports of Roman times, built around a community of upper-middle class citizens. Also the deathplace of St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, Ostia was a center of cultural transmission. Christianity and Mithraism (the cult of Mithras, somewhat of an eastern cult) were the two important religions; the latter being the earlier of the two. The site itself is a gorgeous one, with a good number of mosaic floors to attest to its wealth and prosperity. Something that's not found very often in Roman settlements is present here as well: a SINGLE LATRINE! One was very fancy and well to-do if he had his own latrine. Of course, there was a superb example of public latrines... pictures to come a little later.
My two favorite statues came from Ostia, neither of which I have a good picture due to their inaccessibility. Both are in the Ostia Museum, which doesn't allow photos because not all of the pieces have been published. One of these statues was of a city official, heroically nude, whose inscription was rewritten several times. The other was a cult statue of Isis with a snake wound next to her. Both were breathtaking (and I usually don't care for art).
I will put up some pictures a little bit later; for now we just have a short break until class begins again.
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