Ostia Antica in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Latium, Rome, Italy — Central Italy (Tyrrhenian Coast)

Boundary Stone of Gaius Caninius

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 5, 2025

1. Boundary Stone of Gaius Caninius

This boundary stone and the others at Ostia Antica are known in Italian as Cippi di Caninio.

Inscription.
[Latin inscription:]
C. Caninius Cfp urb de sen sent poplic ioudic

[English translation:]
C. Caninius, son of Gaius, urban praetor, by decision of the Senate allocated this area for public use

Erected 140 BCE.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 41° 45.422′ N, 12° 17.693′ E. Marker is in Ostia Antica, Lazio (Latium, Rome), in Città metropolitana di Roma Capitale. It can be reached from Viale degli Scavi. The marker is in Ostia Antica Archaeological Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Viale dei Romagnoli 717, Ostia Antica, Lazio 00119, Italy. Touch for directions.

Regionally, it is in Europe,

the European Union,

the Schengen Area,

a coastal Mediterranean country,

and the Western World.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least

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8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cippi di Caninio / The Boundary Stones of Gaius Caninius (here, next to this marker); L'Area a Servizio del Fiume e Il Quartiere Dei Magazzini / Area Serving River and Warehouse District (within shouting distance of this marker); Magazzini Repubblicani e Caseggiato del Cane Monnus / Republican Warehouses and Cane Monnus Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Mura Repubblicane — Porta Romana / Republican Walls — Roman Gate (about 90 meters away, measured in a direct line); Decumano e Rete Viaria / Decamanus and Road Network (about 120 meters away); Tomba degli Archetti / Tomb of the Arches (about 120 meters away); La Necropoli della Via Ostiense / The Via Ostiensis Necropolis (about 180 meters away); Terme di Nettuno / Baths of Neptune (about 180 meters away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ostia Antica.

Regarding Boundary Stone of Gaius Caninius. A nearby sign about the history of the "Cippi

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 5, 2025

2. Boundary Stone of Gaius Caninius

of Caninius" offers this explanation of the Latin text, which was shortened to fit on the boundary stone: C. Caninius C(ai) f(ilius) p(raetor) urb(anus) de sen(atus) sent(entia) poplic(um) ioudic(avit).

The sign attributes the boundary marker to 140 BC, and that date is used on this listing. However, research (summarized below under "Also see...”) indicates that they may actually have been erected a little later, between 109 BC, when travertine was first used by the Romans, and before 80 BC.

Boundary stones like this one outlined public land in the eastern section of Ostia that was to be used for transporting and storing goods. The raising of the street over the years, coupled with private use of this land, eventually led to these boundary stones becoming obsolete.

Also see . . . Summary of travertine boundary stones.

Excerpt: "Travertine was already used in the Republican period. Along the north side of the eastern stretch of the Decumanus are six boundary stones
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 5, 2025

3. Nearby sign about the history of this boundary stone
with inscriptions, the so-called Cippi of Caninius. They were most likely erected between c. 109 and 80 BC (travertine was used for the first time in the city of Rome in 109 BC). More early boundary stones were found in Ostia's "trastevere" and in the small Shrine of Jupiter (II,VIII,4), the latter with the inscription I(ovi) O(ptimo) M(aximo) S(acrum)."

(Submitted on August 8, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Additional commentary.
1. The second oldest historical marker in the database
As of September 2025, this "cippi" (boundary marker) near the eastern entrance into the ancient town of Ostia ranks as the second-oldest listing on the Historical Marker Database, and the oldest that is still being displayed outdoors.

A modern historical marker nearby, installed by the Ostia Antica park, places the erection of this boundary marker in 140 BC. However, other research (summarized in the article under "Also see...") indicates that these boundary markers most

Close-up of the stone's inscription image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 5, 2025

4. Close-up of the stone's inscription

likely were erected somewhat later: after 109 BC, when travertine was first used by the Romans, but before 80 BC.

— Submitted September 19, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 31, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 8, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 236 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 8, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.