Ostia antica by Dario Daffara
Bullettino della Commissione Archeologica Comunale di Roma, 2024
In 1982, during the construction of a sewer south of the archaeological area of Ostia, an interes... more In 1982, during the construction of a sewer south of the archaeological area of Ostia, an interesting discovery was made. This area was part of the
outskirts of the city, which in the imperial age was mainly occupied by burials and today is known as ‘Pianabella’. Excavations in 1982 uncovered several
funerary buildings and led to the recovery of various finds, mainly epigraphic, but also of bronze and lead objects, including a miniature chariot, possibly
a toy. The excavations ended with the discovery of a small shrine, possibly dedicated to a water cult, featuring an underground cistern and a black and
white mosaic with a marine subject. These findings were only partially published, and only today this report, based on the photographic documentation and excavation journals compiled at the time, could be offered.
Mélanges de l'École française de Rome - Antiquité, 2024
During the excavation of the Christian Basilica of Pianabella in 1988-89 a number of early mediev... more During the excavation of the Christian Basilica of Pianabella in 1988-89 a number of early medieval graves were found, a sign that some form of settlement must have still been present in Ostia and in its outskirts between the 7th and 9th centuries. The scanty grave goods and osteological analysis suggest that middle- and upper-class individuals, perhaps representatives of a local elite, were buried in the basilica.
Rassegna di Archeologia dell'Associazione Archeologica Piombinese, 2023
South of the ancient city of Ostia, during the upgrading of the city aqueduct, a marble sarcophag... more South of the ancient city of Ostia, during the upgrading of the city aqueduct, a marble sarcophagus lid was found, bearing an inscription and the depiction of two sea griffins. Saved from an attempted theft by criminal diggers, the find was brought inside Ostia’s archaeological area; the iconography of the sea griffins and the name of the deceased helped to shed new light on Ostian society in the second century AD, particularly on the freedmen of the Agria family.
Notizie degli Scavi di Antichità, 2023
During a rescue excavation in the plain known as “Pianabella”, south of the ancient city of Ostia... more During a rescue excavation in the plain known as “Pianabella”, south of the ancient city of Ostia, the remains of some masonry structures in opus latericium appeared under the modern Via Ostiense. Earlier excavations
north and south of the road suggested that these structures belonged to funerary buildings, part of a vast necropolis in use from 1st to 4th century AD. In the western section of the excavation (“Tratto 7”) part of a paved
road emerged, thus identified as the road linking the so-called ‘Necropoli Laurentina’ to the Christian basilica of Pianabella. Another road appeared further to the east; it was the suburban extension of the “Via del Sabazeo”, a road never documented before south of the modern Via Ostiense. In this area (‘Cavo A1’) a marble sarcophagus lid bearing an inscription and decorated with sea griffins was found, fortunately escaping an attempted theft. The particular conditions of the excavation, dictated by the consistency of the ground and the urgency of the intervention,
did not allow the sterile layer to be reached. The findings, in a very fragmentary state, confirm the chronology of the funeral structures, which it was possible to place topographically within the previous findings.
First mentioned in 19th century, the monumental Caseggiato del Serapide (III, X, 3) at Ostia anti... more First mentioned in 19th century, the monumental Caseggiato del Serapide (III, X, 3) at Ostia antica was excavated by Guido Calza between 1935 and 1937. A research in the archives of the Parco archeologico di Ostia antica clarified the chronology of both excavation and restoration, also due to the information given by the press and propaganda of the time.
![Research paper thumbnail of "Regiones Ostienses, nota sulla suddivisione di Ostia tra l'antichità e l'età contemporanea", in Archeologia Classica 74, 2023, pp. 887-909 [preview]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/109300632/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Archeologia Classica, 2023
This contribution will outline the history of the modern partition of Ostia according to the topo... more This contribution will outline the history of the modern partition of Ostia according to the topographic system ‘Quarter, Block, Building’ (Regione, Isolato, Edificio), introduced in the 20th century and still adopted today in scientific and administrative contexts. Its definition seems to be based
on the division of Rome known from written sources, but there are well founded epigraphic elements that also suggest a division of the ancient city of Ostia into at least five regions. On the basis of this epigraphic evidence and looking also to Pompeii, an initial definition was drawn up, later refined by Guido Calza in the 1920s and definitively adopted with the conclusion of the excavations for the 1942 Universal Exhibition. Since then, the Ostia topographic system has been used in all major scientific publications and its use is also planned in the management GIS being developed by the Parco Archeologico di Ostia antica.
![Research paper thumbnail of "«Nella miglior forma e nella migliore luce». Progetti per un nuovo Museo Ostiense dall’E42 a oggi" in S. Benedetti et alii (a cura di), Forme dell'Abitare a Roma, echi dell'antico nell'architettura del primo Novecento (Atti del Convegno, Roma, 23-25 novembre 2021), Roma, 2023, pp. 83-96. [preview]](https://attachments.academia-assets.com/102366149/thumbnails/1.jpg)
The quest for suitable exhibition spaces to accommodate the artworks
discovered in Ostia Antica h... more The quest for suitable exhibition spaces to accommodate the artworks
discovered in Ostia Antica has been a constant concern in the modern history of the archaeological area, since the establishment of the first antiquarium in 1912. The situation worsened with the excavations for the Universal Exhibition of 1942 and the discovery of about 200 new sculptures, which needed an adequate accommodation. The Director of the Excavations Guido Calza and the architect Italo Gismondi proposed the renovation of the Casone del Sale, seat of the newly inaugurated Museum (1934), but the project wasn’t appreciated by Marcello Piacentini, who imposed the construction of a new complex designed by the engineer Enrico Lenti. The new building would fit harmoniously the old museum, the Cardine Massimo and the bank of the Tiber, with an succession of open and closed spaces recalling the Roman domus. Here we will show the graphic documentation of both projects, filed in the Archivio Disegni of the Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica and partially published: in addition, we will also show the administrative and project documentation found in the Fondo Ente Eur, filed in the Archivio Centrale dello Stato. Due to the war, the project was abandoned in favor of a modest enlargement of the existing museum, inaugurated in 1945. In the 1960s, Italo Gismondi proposed the realization of a new building, in which the opus sectile of Porta Marina would be exhibited: this project, too, was never realized, but its graphic documentation is presented here. The search for exhibition spaces continued in the 1980s, when the architect Vanni Mannucci proposed the reconversion of the building of the ex-Meccanica Romana into a museum; a project supported by the superintendent Anna Gallina Zevi, not be realized due to the failure of the expropriation.
A short essay about the transformation of the Roman Theatre of Ostia between the late antiquity a... more A short essay about the transformation of the Roman Theatre of Ostia between the late antiquity and the present day. The monument was sumptuously decorated during the 4th century with the laying of new marble floors and the monumentalisation of the access corridor. Between the 4th and 5th century, it was modified to accommodate the aquatic spectacles known as "tetimimi". In the following century, the occupation of the tabernae with craft activities and the spoliation of marble began. In a period that is difficult to date, the arches of the first order were filled in, perhaps a testimony to the fortification of the building in the early Middle Ages. Excavations began with Dante Vaglieri in the early 20th century and led to the reconstruction of the cavea and part of the façade between the 1920s and 1930s.
Historical introduction to the second revised edition of G. Calza, I. Gismondi, G. Becatti, H. Bl... more Historical introduction to the second revised edition of G. Calza, I. Gismondi, G. Becatti, H. Bloch, "Scavi di Ostia I", edited by Alessandro D'Alessio and Dario Daffara
In this paper the rich scientific production of Raissa Calza, which includes about forty books, g... more In this paper the rich scientific production of Raissa Calza, which includes about forty books, guides and articles, will be analyzed. The first part will attempt to outline the cultural context in which the scholar was educated, from her youth readings to her studies with Charles Picard in Paris. This will be followed by an analysis of her written production, focusing mainly on the topics of Ostia; the characteristics of her «musically Russianized» writing, as Andrea Carandini said, will be highlighted, as well as the comparative method used for the analysis of ancient works of art and the attributions of the characters represented, today little favoured but suggestive and well supported. Consequently we will discover the portrait of a very passionate and competent scholar, whose writings are still fundamental for the study of Roman sculpture. In the appendix the initiatives undertaken by the Library of Ostia to celebrate the figure of this founder of the Ostian archaeology will be exposed.
The following paper will present an overview of a zenithal aerial photograph taken at Ostia Antic... more The following paper will present an overview of a zenithal aerial photograph taken at Ostia Antica in 1985. Due to the particular atmospheric conditions, traces of buildings not yet excavated can clearly be distinguished in this image, especially in Regio V, traces which were partially studied by M. Heinzelmann at the turn of the millennium. Other traces in the suburbs of Regio IV suggest the existence of a large complex recently studied by M. Turci, perhaps the Aurelian’ s Forum known from ancient sources. Finally, outlining the prospects for future research, the circuit of the walls and the road network will be examined, along with the few traces of the Pianabella necropolis still visible in the southern suburbs.
Costantinopoli by Dario Daffara
In 1921 the discovery of an impressive hexagonal building with a semi-circular hall in Istanbul, ... more In 1921 the discovery of an impressive hexagonal building with a semi-circular hall in Istanbul, next to the Topkapı Palace, was made by the archaeologists of the French Army. This complex was considered for a long time the baptistery of a nearby (never found) basilica. This article suggests its identification with a huge dining room, part of a residential complex built in 5th century and modified during 6th century. The particular plan of the hall called “sigma” and few traces in literary sources suggest a link with the Imperial family, maybe with a property of the Theodosian dinasty.
The Hospital of Sampson was a famous health-care institution in Constantinople with a long histor... more The Hospital of Sampson was a famous health-care institution in Constantinople with a long history, first built in the 6th century AD by an elusive figure, probably related to the Imperial Court. The excellence of physicians and the impressive internal organization of that Hospital set a standard for similar foundations during later Byzantine history. However, the exact location of the building in present day Istanbul remained unknown for a long time. According to Procopius of Caesarea, the Hospital stood between the churches of Haghia Sophia and Haghia Eirene. In this area, two excavation campaigns in 1946-1947 and 1958-1960 brought to light the remains of a complex built in the age of Justinian, possibly part of the famous Hospital. In the want of modern additional fieldwork, the analysis carried out here of the internal organization and masonry of this building fit perfectly with the albeit limited description of Sampson’s Hospital in literary sources.
Milano by Dario Daffara
This article presents unpublished material about two monumental bases, probably made during the R... more This article presents unpublished material about two monumental bases, probably made during the Roman Imperial age, discovered in piazza del Duomo and via Mercanti. The circumstance of discovery and the almost totally destruction of the archaeological remains make difficult to establish the real function of these bases, built with similar technique and probably for the same purpose. Until the discovery many theories concerning their function were suggested such as medieval towers, honorary arches, tetrapyla and honorary monuments. Thanks to several comparisons many of these assumptions were excluded, leaving the conclusion that the bases were probably built in different periods on the ancient boundary of the pre‐Roman city, perhaps to sustain a group of statues or honorary columns.
Archaeo Magazine by Dario Daffara
Archeo, attualità del passato, 2024
A short presentation of the latest interventions in the republican sacred area of Ostia antica, i... more A short presentation of the latest interventions in the republican sacred area of Ostia antica, including the restoration of the Temple of Hercules and the discoveries made in a well of the area
Archeo, attualità del passato, 2024
Short contribution about a roman warehouse of the 2nd century AD located in the western part of O... more Short contribution about a roman warehouse of the 2nd century AD located in the western part of Ostia, later trasformed in a nymphaeum and recently studied by the Parco archeologico di Ostia antica.
A brief description of the christian basilica of Pianabella, built at the beginning of the 5th ce... more A brief description of the christian basilica of Pianabella, built at the beginning of the 5th century in the outskirts of Ostia antica to host the tombs of the growing christian comunity
Nuovi dati sulla decorazione interna della Domus della Fortuna Annonaria a Ostia antica
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Ostia antica by Dario Daffara
outskirts of the city, which in the imperial age was mainly occupied by burials and today is known as ‘Pianabella’. Excavations in 1982 uncovered several
funerary buildings and led to the recovery of various finds, mainly epigraphic, but also of bronze and lead objects, including a miniature chariot, possibly
a toy. The excavations ended with the discovery of a small shrine, possibly dedicated to a water cult, featuring an underground cistern and a black and
white mosaic with a marine subject. These findings were only partially published, and only today this report, based on the photographic documentation and excavation journals compiled at the time, could be offered.
north and south of the road suggested that these structures belonged to funerary buildings, part of a vast necropolis in use from 1st to 4th century AD. In the western section of the excavation (“Tratto 7”) part of a paved
road emerged, thus identified as the road linking the so-called ‘Necropoli Laurentina’ to the Christian basilica of Pianabella. Another road appeared further to the east; it was the suburban extension of the “Via del Sabazeo”, a road never documented before south of the modern Via Ostiense. In this area (‘Cavo A1’) a marble sarcophagus lid bearing an inscription and decorated with sea griffins was found, fortunately escaping an attempted theft. The particular conditions of the excavation, dictated by the consistency of the ground and the urgency of the intervention,
did not allow the sterile layer to be reached. The findings, in a very fragmentary state, confirm the chronology of the funeral structures, which it was possible to place topographically within the previous findings.
on the division of Rome known from written sources, but there are well founded epigraphic elements that also suggest a division of the ancient city of Ostia into at least five regions. On the basis of this epigraphic evidence and looking also to Pompeii, an initial definition was drawn up, later refined by Guido Calza in the 1920s and definitively adopted with the conclusion of the excavations for the 1942 Universal Exhibition. Since then, the Ostia topographic system has been used in all major scientific publications and its use is also planned in the management GIS being developed by the Parco Archeologico di Ostia antica.
discovered in Ostia Antica has been a constant concern in the modern history of the archaeological area, since the establishment of the first antiquarium in 1912. The situation worsened with the excavations for the Universal Exhibition of 1942 and the discovery of about 200 new sculptures, which needed an adequate accommodation. The Director of the Excavations Guido Calza and the architect Italo Gismondi proposed the renovation of the Casone del Sale, seat of the newly inaugurated Museum (1934), but the project wasn’t appreciated by Marcello Piacentini, who imposed the construction of a new complex designed by the engineer Enrico Lenti. The new building would fit harmoniously the old museum, the Cardine Massimo and the bank of the Tiber, with an succession of open and closed spaces recalling the Roman domus. Here we will show the graphic documentation of both projects, filed in the Archivio Disegni of the Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica and partially published: in addition, we will also show the administrative and project documentation found in the Fondo Ente Eur, filed in the Archivio Centrale dello Stato. Due to the war, the project was abandoned in favor of a modest enlargement of the existing museum, inaugurated in 1945. In the 1960s, Italo Gismondi proposed the realization of a new building, in which the opus sectile of Porta Marina would be exhibited: this project, too, was never realized, but its graphic documentation is presented here. The search for exhibition spaces continued in the 1980s, when the architect Vanni Mannucci proposed the reconversion of the building of the ex-Meccanica Romana into a museum; a project supported by the superintendent Anna Gallina Zevi, not be realized due to the failure of the expropriation.
Costantinopoli by Dario Daffara
Milano by Dario Daffara
Archaeo Magazine by Dario Daffara
outskirts of the city, which in the imperial age was mainly occupied by burials and today is known as ‘Pianabella’. Excavations in 1982 uncovered several
funerary buildings and led to the recovery of various finds, mainly epigraphic, but also of bronze and lead objects, including a miniature chariot, possibly
a toy. The excavations ended with the discovery of a small shrine, possibly dedicated to a water cult, featuring an underground cistern and a black and
white mosaic with a marine subject. These findings were only partially published, and only today this report, based on the photographic documentation and excavation journals compiled at the time, could be offered.
north and south of the road suggested that these structures belonged to funerary buildings, part of a vast necropolis in use from 1st to 4th century AD. In the western section of the excavation (“Tratto 7”) part of a paved
road emerged, thus identified as the road linking the so-called ‘Necropoli Laurentina’ to the Christian basilica of Pianabella. Another road appeared further to the east; it was the suburban extension of the “Via del Sabazeo”, a road never documented before south of the modern Via Ostiense. In this area (‘Cavo A1’) a marble sarcophagus lid bearing an inscription and decorated with sea griffins was found, fortunately escaping an attempted theft. The particular conditions of the excavation, dictated by the consistency of the ground and the urgency of the intervention,
did not allow the sterile layer to be reached. The findings, in a very fragmentary state, confirm the chronology of the funeral structures, which it was possible to place topographically within the previous findings.
on the division of Rome known from written sources, but there are well founded epigraphic elements that also suggest a division of the ancient city of Ostia into at least five regions. On the basis of this epigraphic evidence and looking also to Pompeii, an initial definition was drawn up, later refined by Guido Calza in the 1920s and definitively adopted with the conclusion of the excavations for the 1942 Universal Exhibition. Since then, the Ostia topographic system has been used in all major scientific publications and its use is also planned in the management GIS being developed by the Parco Archeologico di Ostia antica.
discovered in Ostia Antica has been a constant concern in the modern history of the archaeological area, since the establishment of the first antiquarium in 1912. The situation worsened with the excavations for the Universal Exhibition of 1942 and the discovery of about 200 new sculptures, which needed an adequate accommodation. The Director of the Excavations Guido Calza and the architect Italo Gismondi proposed the renovation of the Casone del Sale, seat of the newly inaugurated Museum (1934), but the project wasn’t appreciated by Marcello Piacentini, who imposed the construction of a new complex designed by the engineer Enrico Lenti. The new building would fit harmoniously the old museum, the Cardine Massimo and the bank of the Tiber, with an succession of open and closed spaces recalling the Roman domus. Here we will show the graphic documentation of both projects, filed in the Archivio Disegni of the Parco Archeologico di Ostia Antica and partially published: in addition, we will also show the administrative and project documentation found in the Fondo Ente Eur, filed in the Archivio Centrale dello Stato. Due to the war, the project was abandoned in favor of a modest enlargement of the existing museum, inaugurated in 1945. In the 1960s, Italo Gismondi proposed the realization of a new building, in which the opus sectile of Porta Marina would be exhibited: this project, too, was never realized, but its graphic documentation is presented here. The search for exhibition spaces continued in the 1980s, when the architect Vanni Mannucci proposed the reconversion of the building of the ex-Meccanica Romana into a museum; a project supported by the superintendent Anna Gallina Zevi, not be realized due to the failure of the expropriation.
Both projects were never realized, just as the idea developed in the 1960s by Italo Gismondi to exhibit the opus sectile of Porta Marina never came to fruition. Finally, the documentation of a great missed opportunity in the eighties will be presented, i.e. the creation of a large museum of the territory in the abandoned factory of "Meccanica Romana", a facility of industrial archeology not far from the archaeological area.