Ostia: Rome's Port City and the Empire's Lifeline

In the 200th episode of The Story of Italy, Lucas and Luna explore Ostia, the bustling port city that fed the Roman Empire. From its legendary founding by Ancus Marcius to its grid of warehouses and the grand Piazzale delle Corporazioni, Ostia was where the world's goods flowed into Rome. Discover the monumental Horrea Epagathiana, the private fire brigade led by a freedman, and the city's role in the grain trade that could make or break emperors. Meet Tyche, the goddess of fortune, and hear how Ostia's very name became a byword for Roman ports. As the empire declined, Ostia's fate mirrored Rome's, crumbling into ruins that sleep beneath the modern town. A story of trade, power, and the quiet labor that sustained an empire, from the Punic Wars to the barbarian raids. #Ostia #Rome #RomanEmpire #PortCity #GrainTrade #AncusMarcius #PiazzaleDelleCorporazioni #HorreaEpagathiana #Tyche #RomanArchitecture #RomanEconomy #Shipping #AncientTrade #RomanHistory #ItalyHistory #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo