\paperw4800 \margr0\margl0 \plain \fs20 \f1 \fs22 The literary sources date the origins of the city of Ostia to the Monarchic era. In fact it was probably founded at th
e mouth of the Tiber (ostium = mouth) in the seventh century BC to exploit the natural salt pans of the coast and as a military outpost to defend the important landing place and the approach by river to Rome. In the fourth century BC Ostia became Rome's
first colony. Initially inhabited by 300 families, its population increased rapidly, in parallel with Rome's growing commercial power. The city, for which new fortifications were built by \b \cf2 \ATXht12 Sulla\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 (first century BC), covere
d an area of about 70 hectares. Toward the end of the Republic there were roads lined with porticoes, modest houses, and noble domus. In the Imperial age Ostia became the most important emporium in the Mediterranean, a business and trading center of fund
amental importance for the supply of food to Rome.
