Emperor's Private Amphitheatre Discovered in Major Find at Portus, Rome's 'Other' Harbour Town

This marble statue head was unearthed close to the remains of an
amphitheatre discovered by University of Southampton archaeologists.
Photo by Southampton University.

Several major archaeological discoveries have been made at the site of one of Rome's ancient harbours. An oval amphitheatre, a 90m canal as well as many smaller objects (including marble statues) have emerged during excavations of Portus, the second port of ancient Rome, about two miles north of its better-known counterpart, Ostia Antica.

The team of archaeologists working at the site is led by the University of Southampton, who are working with Cambridge University and the British School at Rome.

Amphitheatre Fit For an Emperor

The amphitheatre, which could have seated 2,000 spectators, was found inside a big imperial palace. The site of Portus lies next to Fiumicino runway – Rome's international airport and is 20 miles outside the city centre. As with its famous neighbour Ostia, Portus is now an inland site, since the coast has extended further out due to silt from the Tiber.

The site was also excavated in the 1860s, but the dig did not uncover or document the finds that have come to light this week.

'Grossly Under Studied'

Professor Simon Keay, from the British School at Rome and director of the Portus Project, told the BBC that the oval-shaped amphitheatre is similar in size to the pantheon and is at the eastern end of the imperial palace. He emphasised that it is very unusual to find a building of this architectural quality near to a harbour: "Its design, using luxurious materials and substantial colonnades, suggests it was used by a high status official, possibly even the emperor himself, and the activities that took place there were strictly private.” He also believes that it may have been used for private performances inside the palace.

Professor Keay added: "The site has been known about since the 16th century but it has never been given the importance it deserves. It has been grossly under studied."

Although Ostia is what we now think of as the ancient port of Rome – in fact during much of the imperial period Portus was the principal harbour. Building work began on the hexagonal harbour of Portus during the first century AD – during the reign of Claudius – it was completed by Nero, and then enlarged by Trajan. It received most of the capital's food supplies as well as imported materials such as marble and glass from Rome's provinces. The ceramic containers found during excavations of the site provide evidence of the variety of trade that was done at Portus. It is ironic then that the smaller port of Ostia is far better known today.

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