The Port of Claudius and Trajan at Ostia 1641

Editor: Here we have Giacomo Lauro’s print of “The Port of Claudius and Trajan at Ostia.” It's quite detailed, almost like a bird’s eye view, but feels a bit like propaganda too. What do you see in this piece beyond the obvious depiction of the port? Curator: I see more than just a port, I see a statement of Roman power and its infrastructure. How does the representation of maritime trade reflect the socio-political dynamics of the time? Editor: I hadn't considered it that way, but the ships do seem deliberately placed and active. Curator: Exactly! This image isn't neutral; it serves to legitimize imperial control through the depiction of a bustling, well-managed port essential for the Roman project. What does it mean to showcase this port as a central point of global exchange and control? Editor: It makes me think about who benefitted from all this "exchange", and who was likely exploited. Thanks, I'll remember to look beyond the surface from now on.