Portus

Portus ( Latin for " harbor " ), fully Portus Ostiensis Augusti, later Portus Romae, was one of the ancient ports of Rome. The remains are located about 20 kilometers southwest of the city between Rome Fiumicino Airport and the northern tributary of the Tiber.

Construction under Claudius

Since the second walk from the Tiber port of Ostia increasingly silted began Emperor Claudius 42 AD, four kilometers north of the mouth of the Tiber tributary to the 69 -acre construction of a new harbor basin, which was limited by two far into the sea reaching moles. In the harbor entrance stood a lighthouse on an artificial island. At the foundation of this island a large, loaded with stones ship was sunk, which had previously used to transport an obelisk from Egypt.

The moles were used as anchorages, but it should also protect the harbor basin in front of the constant south-westerly winds, the southern breakwater. However, this was only partially successful. Thus, Tacitus reports of the sinking of several ships in the cereal year 62 AD within the port as a result of a storm.

The open to the northwest harbor was connected to the southeast through a channel with the Tiber, so that the landed goods - including large quantities of grain from Egypt - could be easily transported to Rome. In addition, a new road link was created with the 24 -kilometer Via Portuensis.

Construction under Trajan

From the year 103 Advanced Emperor Trajan harbor. Due to an eastward then, almost 33 hectares large, hexagonal basin, which still clearly visible residues ( Lago Trajan, immediately south of the airport building) are as a result of siltation today about a kilometer away from the coast Due to its diameter of about 700 meters, even the largest ships then took place on the quays, where along attracted huge warehouses.

Also this new tank was connected by channels to the port from the time of Claudius and directly with the Tiber ( Fossa Traiana ). A later name of the channel, Flumen Micinum sounds of the place names Fiumicino founded until 1825 coastal town.

Next to the ruins of warehouses and docks are remains of baths, temples and porticoes have received.

Consequences for Ostia

The new port Quick took over all the tasks that had hitherto been met by the harbor at Ostia. Nevertheless Portus remained a district of Ostia. However, the port settlement Portus grew steadily. After the year 300 - the time of Emperor Constantine - the district had 30,000 to 40,000 inhabitants and was only shortly after Ostia (perhaps even simultaneously ) seat of a bishop.

The decline accelerated in Ostia, Portus when Constantine in 314 for colonia raised ( him, so to speak, the city gave rights ) and Ostia later together with Portus the city of Rome is my finished little as Portus Romae. A wall that was built to protect the harbor Konstantin between Portus and Ostia, manifested the separation of the two parts of the city of Rome. The population of Ostia declined rapidly after raids of the Vandals and Saracens.

With the decline of the Roman Empire also Portus lost its importance in the 6th century.

657561
de