Brevi note sulle Terme di Porta Marina a Ostia

The Terme di Porta Marina stood on the coast of Ostia, outside the city wall, a little south of the Porta Marina. This gate was crossed by the decumanus maximus in the direction of the coast. The baths' ancient name, "thermae maritimae ", emphasized the link with the sea. That appellation is found in a sixth century A.D. document in which restoration work during the reign of the emperor Valens is mentioned.
The baths' foundation is to be placed during the Trajanic or Hadrianic periods, when there was lively building activity connected with the enlargement of Ostia's seaport. The complex is not vast (slightly more than 3200 square metres). The zone best organised in spatial terms is the northern, where the large frigidarium is situated. The Terme di Porta Marina constituted a public space, and their construction was promoted by the central authority, as can be seen from the rich and high-quality sculptural decoration and from a gallery of imperial portraits.