University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2016-01-15 Culture and Community: A reconsideration of Egyptians at Ostia and Portus in the 2nd century Incze, Franciska I. Incze, F. I. (2016). Culture and Community: A reconsideration of Egyptians at Ostia and Portus in the 2nd century (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/25504 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/2749 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Culture and Community: A reconsideration of Egyptians at Ostia and Portus in the 2nd century by Franciska I. Incze A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN GREEK AND ROMAN STUDIES CALGARY, ALBERTA JANUARY, 2016 © Franciska I. Incze 2016 Abstract The goal of this thesis is to reassess the presence of Egyptians at the Imperial harbours of Ostia and Portus in the 2nd century. This study will utilize a composite body of evidence that includes ancient written sources, epigraphical, architectural, and iconographical information in order to investigate the potential communal presence of Egyptians in the commercial centres. I suggest that through the careful scrutiny of key details in text, and on architecture, Egyptians created a niche for themselves in the Roman society that is not readily apparent in just any one avenue of study. While transporting grain from Alexandria, Egyptians arriving at Ostia and Portus in the 2nd century would sometimes linger or settle permanently. They created favourable environments at the Imperial harbours with the erection of temples, monuments, and other culturally significant markers familiar to their faith and background. ii Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the aid of the Humphrey-McLeod award that allowed for travel to conduct research. I want to take the opportunity to sincerely thank my supervisor, Dr. Hanne S. Nielsen, for her guidance and endless support through the course of this thesis, most especially for the patience and dedication to the many happy hours compiling and translating inscriptions. Without her expertise, a significant portion of this thesis would not be possible. I would also like to thank my co-supervisor, Dr. Lisa Hughes, for her assistance and insights on an ever growing and changing body of work, most especially for the encouragement during times of stress and for delivering her ceaseless passion for Roman art. A big thank you also to the department of Greek and Roman Studies at the University of Calgary in assisting me and supporting me during the course of this thesis. I would also like to thank my wonderful family who journeyed with me through the highs and lows, with all the love and support I could ever ask for. Sok szerettetel, köszönöm szépen! Lastly, thank you to my friends for their constant encouragement and patience over the last few years, and for your willingness to not only hear about my Romans and Egyptians, but also to read about them. iii Dedications To Ana, Joseph, Ildiko, and Cecilia iv Table of Contents Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... ii Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................ iii Dedications ................................................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... v List of Figures ............................................................................................................................... vii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................ 1 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW .............................................................................. 13 2.1 IDENTIFYING CULTURAL MARKERS AT THE IMPERIAL HARBOURS ........................................ 14 2.2 TRADE WITH ROME: GRAIN SUPPLY FROM THE AFRICAN PROVINCES .................................. 22 2.3 ALEXANDRIA AND THE IMPERIAL HARBOURS: THE NATURE OF THE EVIDENCE ................... 30 2.4 A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH ............................................................................................ 34 CHAPTER THREE: THE HISTORY ......................................................................................... 36 3.1 THE CAPITAL’S GROWTH IN THE 1ST CENTURY: POPULATION AND PROVISIONS ..................... 37 3.2 SERVICING OSTIA: THE CONSTRUCTION OF PORTUS............................................................. 40 3.3 EGYPT AND AFRICA PROCONSULARIS: BREADBASKETS AND CULTURAL CENTRES ............. 44 3.4 ‘EGYPTOMANIA’ AND EGYPTIANIZING ELEMENTS ................................................................ 47 3.5 CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................................... 51 CHAPTER FOUR: ANCIENT LITERARY SOURCES AND EPIGRAPHIC EVIDENCE ..... 52 4.1 SECTION 1: ANCIENT LITERARY SOURCES AT ROME ............................................................ 53 4.2 SECTION 2: EPIGRAPHIC EVIDENCE AT OSTIA AND PORTUS ................................................. 64 4.3 CONCLUSIONS ...................................................................................................................... 71 CHAPTER FIVE: ARCHITECTURAL EVIDENCE ................................................................. 73 5.1 SECTION 1: ARRIVAL TO PORTUS ......................................................................................... 74 5.2 SECTION 2: CROSSING THE ISOLA SACRA ............................................................................. 83 5.3 SECTION 3: BUSINESS, LEISURE, AND WORSHIP AT OSTIA ................................................... 93 v 5.4 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................... 100 CHAPTER SIX: ICONOGRAPHICAL EVIDENCE ............................................................... 103 6.1 SECTION 1: OSTIA AND PORTUS ......................................................................................... 104 6.1.1 Sculptures .................................................................................................................. 104 6.1.2 Paintings ................................................................................................................... 114 6.1.3 Mosaics ..................................................................................................................... 114 6.1.4 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 121 6.2 SECTION 2: THE ISOLA SACRA NECROPOLIS ....................................................................... 122 6.2.1 Sculptures .................................................................................................................. 122 6.2.2 Paintings ................................................................................................................... 125 6.2.3 Mosaics ..................................................................................................................... 129 6.2.4 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 133 6.3 CONCLUSIONS .................................................................................................................... 133 CHAPTER SEVEN: CONCLUSIONS ..................................................................................... 135 Bibliography: ............................................................................................................................. 141 vi List of Figures Figure 1: Alexandria, plan of Roman city c. AD 300, archaeological remains with house and mosaics of first to third centuries AD. Source: McKenzie, The Architecture of Alexandria and Egypt, 175 (fig. 299). Figure 2: Plan of Ostia and Portus. Period 2. (Portus Project). Author: University of Southhampton. Source: http://moocs.southampton.ac.uk/portus/maps-plans/ Figure 3 a-b: Alexandria, lighthouse Pharos: (a) Reconstruction by I. Hairy incorporating underwater discoveries of Centre d’Études Alexandrines, directed by J.-Y. Empereur (side view); (b) Reconstruction by H. Thiersch based on the Arab descriptions and the ancient descriptions. Source: McKenzie, The Architecture of Alexandria and Egypt, 45 (fig. 48 a-b). Figure 4: Alexandria, temple of Serapis complex, plan of building foundations of Ptolemaic and Roman phases. Source: McKenzie, The Architecture of Alexandria and Egypt, 54 (fig. 66). Figure 5: Plan of Temple of Isis and Cistern (Google Earth). Source: http://ostia- antica.org/portus/s009.htm Figure 6: Plan of the Isola Sacra Necropolis. Source: Baldassarre et al., Necropoli