Religions in OstiaDying in Ostia

Roman Religion

• Pragmatic

• Ritualistic

• Not exclusive

• Open to incorporating new gods

Religions of Ostia

• State or public religions

• Private religions

• Eastern Religions

• Biblical Religions

State religions

• Capitoline trio

• Cult of the Emperor

• Traditional religions:

– Vulcan

– Hercules

– Dioscuri

Capitoleum

Capitoleum: Part of the cornice. Photograph: Jan Theo Bakker. Altar with the frieze of

weapons.

Capitoleum

Forum and Temple of Roma and Augustus

Roma Victrix

OctavianDeification – Son of the divine [Julius] ~38 BCE

Religious Role of the EmperorAugustus Caesar Maxentius as Pontifex Maximus

Imperial Cult-mosaic - Barracks of the VigilesPhoto – Robert Ehrlich

Religions of Ostia

• State or public religions

• Private religions

– Limits on proselytizing

• Eastern Religions

• Biblical Religions

Fortuna

Private fortune

Business fortune

Imperial fortune

Public fortune

Religions of Ostia

• State or public religions

• Private religions - Eastern Religions– Great Mother/Magna Mater/Cybele-Attis

– Isis

– Mithras

• Biblical Religions

Great Mother - Magnus Mater

• Arrival in Rome

• Parades of two collegia

– cannophori (reed-bearers the river Gallos)

– dendrophori (tree-bearers - pine-tree that was sacred to Attis)

• Self-castration of priests

• Bull sacrifice

Campus Magna Mater

Galli

Sarcophagus: C. Junius Euhodus and his wife MetiliaActe, priestess of the Magna Mater

Alcestis Says Farewell Alcestis Restored by Hercules

Isis Pelagia

• Protectress of shipping

• Possible temple on Isola Sacra

• Paired with Serapis

Mysteries of Mithras

• Named for an Iranian god

• Iranian roots doubtful

• Popular among military

• Small, hierarchal organization

• 16 mithraea in Ostia

Mithraism - Iconography

• Mithras slaying the bull

• Identification of Mithras and Sol

• Birth of Mithras in a cave

– Shape of the place of worship - mithraeum

• Grades in the ‘cult’– progression in the cosmic order

– Represented by planets

• Cautes and Cautepates - torchbearers

Mitreo delle Terme del MitraCast of Restored Sculpture of Mithras slaying the Bull

Photograph: Bill Storage.

Mithras Killing the BullRestored sculpture

Mitreo delle Sette Porte

Photograph: Bill Storage

Kronos/SaturnFagan Mithraeum

Mitreo di Felicissimus

Mitreo di FelicissimusPhoto: Robert Ehrlich

Religions of Ostia

• State religions

• Private religions

• Eastern Religions

• Biblical Religions

Synagogue in the Fourth Century

Dedication of Torah Shrine

Fourth Century

Entry

Main Hall

Torah ShrineMenorah

Shofar Etrog, Lulav

Torah Shrine

Kitchen

Christianity and Mithraism

Wherefore also the evil demons in mimicry have handed down that the same thing should be done in the Mysteries of Mithras. For that bread and a cup of water are in these mysteries set before the initiate with certain speeches you either know or can learn.

Justin Martyr

Christian symbols

• Dove, a fish, a ship, a lyre, anchor

• Good shepherd, Orpheus, Helios (Sol)

• Monograms

Christian OratorySt. Cyricus sarcophagus: Orpheus as the Good Shepherd

Photograph: Laura Maish-Bill Storage.

Good Shepherd Oil Lamp

Churches and Martyrs

• Sanctae Aureae: original church 5th century; dedicated to 3rd century martyr

• Sant’Ercolano: Earliest construction 5th

century; dedicated to 3rd century martyrs at Portus

• Christian oratory: 6-7th century; dedicated to 3rd century martyr, Cyricaus

• Sant’Ippolyta, Isola Sacra: 366-384; dedicated to 3rd century martyred bishop

Christian Oratory at Baths of Mithras

Basilica, Portus

ConstantinianBasilica

Constantinian Basilica

Profile w. atrium

Comparison

St. Peters Constantinian basilica(Lateran)

Ostia

119 x 64 m 100 x 54 m 45 x 21 m

Transept

Two aisles

No transept

Two aisles

No transept

One aisle

Martyr’s shrine Principal church Principal church

Outside walls Just inside walls Just inside walls

Pianabella

Pianabella

Pianabella

Funerary enclosures – FormaePhotograph: Milton Torres

Sarcophagus

Sant’Aurea

Aurea (in Greek: Chryse, "golden girl"). Photographs: Jan Theo Bakker.

Epitaph

St. Monica

• 332 Born, probably, at Thagaste in North Africa of Berber stock

• Married Patricius, a dissolute pagan; Patriciusconverted on his deathbed

• 386 Augustine, her son, is converted in Milan by Ambrose

• 387 Dies at Ostia on her way back to Africa.

• Buried at Ostia, body removed to Rome in 1430.

Epitaph of Monica –reproduction

Here the most virtuous mother of a young man set her remains, a second light to your merits, Augustine. As a priest, protecting the heavenly laws of peace, you taught [or, you teach] the people entrusted to you with your character. A glory greater than the praise of your accomplishments crowns you both — virtutum mater, more fortunate because of her offspring.

From a medieval msscf Boin, D. R. Late Antique Ostia and a Campaign for Pious Tourism: Epitaphs for Bishop Cyriacusand Monica, Mother of Augustine Journal of Roman Studies 100 (2010), pp. 195–209

Death in Ostia

Yale Open Courses

Lecture 16 Roman Architecture

Death and Burial [01:10:24 -01:15:55]

Leaving OstiaOrpheus and Eurydice

Porta Laurentina, Tomb 33, Decimus Folius Mela (early 1st C)

Leaving OstiaNecropolis outside Porta Romana

Honoring the DeadPorta Laurentina

Unidentified tomb (Vatican Museum)