Ancient Roman Shop Steps from Ostia

3D Model

These steps were built around 50 CE and found in the Ancient Roman Shop of the Jealous One. It sat along a busy street in Ostia at the corner of the Semita dei Cippi and the via dell’Invidioso. They appear to be made out of brick and concrete, which suggests how they were able to survive to this day as Romans made very sturdy and durable concrete. Shops occasionally would have second stories used for storage or as residential space. When a shopkeeper had to go to another room or upstairs for more product, this kept the shopper in the store longer and extended the interaction between the shopper and shopkeeper where they could continue to market the product.

If you plan on using these steps in a 3D construction of a shop, keep in mind that these steps led to a wooden staircase that led to the second story of the shop. Unfortunately, the wooden stairs and second level of the shop did not survive to this day, but the steps are evidence that they were once there.

https://www.ostia-antica.org/regio5/5/5-1.htm