Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 13

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Gate in Ostia Antica

Ostia was the harbor of Ancient Rome. This gate is the entrance to Domus del Protiro, a Roman home built in the middle of the 3rd Century AD. It was a large house, with 32 rooms on the ground floor. Rooms for servants were on an upper floor.

Among the artifacts found in this house were fragments of a green glass cup made in the 4th century. This drawing shows the Christian design on the cup: Christ with a palm tree and a basket of bread. The palm tree is a symbol of paradise and the basket is a reference to the Eucharist.

Anglican Collect for the 3rd Sunday of Advent

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come
among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins,
let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and
the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer

Visit to Ostia Antica

The ancient Roman city of Ostia was at the mouth of the Tiber River about 30 km west of Rome. Ostia developed as a commercial harbor in the 2nd century BC with the growth of the city of Rome and the arrival of grain from Sicily, Sardinia and Africa. Today there are many things to explore on the site including a well preserved theater, the remains of temples, baths, private houses and even a small shopping mall.