Grain storage and urban growth in imperial Ostia: A quantitative study

Abstract

Abstract For imperial Rome, the importation of grain to feed a growing urban population was of critical importance, and it is no surprise to find Imperial concern about this matter centred on the port of Ostia. The extensive archaeological evidence at Ostia makes it possible to correlate urban growth with the growth in shipping and shipping‐related facilities. We can see that the first horrea and insulae at Ostia are built in an intense burst of activity in the first century A.D. ; the horrea, which were of immediate concern to Rome, were sited near access routes, while the insulae, as manifestations primarily of private enterprise, occupied much of the remaining city space. The archaeological evidence at Ostia reflects Rome's increasing dependence on imported grain until the third century; then the record likewise mirrors Rome's decline, showing cessation of building activity and a concern only for the preservation of existing structures. The data presented here underline Rome's non‐agricultural function, and the measures she took to guarantee the continuity of her food supply from abroad.