Puteoli and the Alexandrian Grain Fleet
The Bay of Naples port where Paul landed and the giant grain ships he sailed on
Found 1750 — Macellum (the "Temple of Serapis") excavated 1750–1756 under King Charles of Bourbon; the submerged waterfront surveyed by the "Tra terra e mare" project (Soprintendenza ABAP Naples, University of Campania and Scuola Superiore Meridionale, 2021–2023); the Torlonia harbour relief found at Portus (1863)
Where Pozzuoli (Puteoli), Bay of Naples (Italy)
Dates from 1st–2nd century CE · Roman Imperial · Paul's arrival in Italy (Acts 28)
Now at In situ at Pozzuoli; Torlonia harbour relief in the Torlonia collection, Rome; grain-ship mosaics at Ostia Antica
How Puteoli and the Alexandrian Grain Fleet was found
The Roman pier of Puteoli, built on concrete piles, is still visible under the modern mole at Pozzuoli. Reliefs, Ostia mosaics, and the wreck at Madrague de Giens (France, 1967) show the size and rig of Alexandrian grain carriers.
What it is
Puteoli was Rome's main deep-water port before Portus, with a long concrete mole, warehouses, and a Macellum market hall. Alexandrian grain ships were the largest vessels of the age, 30–50 metres long with a mainsail and an artemon foresail, carrying hundreds of passengers and around 1,000 tons of wheat.
Why it matters for the Bible
Both ships in Acts 27–28 are 'Alexandrian' (27:6; 28:11), and the second lands at Puteoli, where Paul finds believers already (28:13–14). Luke's details — 276 people aboard, the grain cargo thrown out, the ship wintering at Malta, the spring sailing to Puteoli — match what is known about the Egypt–Rome grain run. Puteoli's harbour is the last physical stop before the Appian Way and Rome.
The Hebrew word: oh-nee-YAH
אֳנִיָּה
אֳנִיָּה is pronounced oh-nee-YAH and means ship (Greek ploion) (Strong's H591 / G4143).
People this discovery connects to
- Paul — שָׁאוּל (Shah-OOL) — asked for (Greek Paulos)
- Luke — לוּקָס (LOO-kahs) — Greek Loukas; narrator of the 'we' voyage
Places
- Puteoli — פּוּטֵאוֹלִי (poo-teh-OH-lee) — Latin Puteoli; modern Pozzuoli
- Alexandria — אֲלֶכְּסַנְדְּרִיָּה (ah-lek-sahn-dree-YAH) — Greek Alexandreia
Events
Voyage on Alexandrian grain ships · Landing at Puteoli and welcome by believers
Puteoli and the Alexandrian Grain Fleet in Scripture
Acts 28:13-14 Paul lands at Puteoli and stays with believers a week.
Questions people ask
What is Puteoli and the Alexandrian Grain Fleet?
Puteoli was Rome's main deep-water port before Portus, with a long concrete mole, warehouses, and a Macellum market hall. Alexandrian grain ships were the largest vessels of the age, 30–50 metres long with a mainsail and an artemon foresail, carrying hundreds of passengers and around 1,000 tons of wheat.
When was Puteoli and the Alexandrian Grain Fleet discovered?
It was found in 1750 by Macellum (the "Temple of Serapis") excavated 1750–1756 under King Charles of Bourbon; the submerged waterfront surveyed by the "Tra terra e mare" project (Soprintendenza ABAP Naples, University of Campania and Scuola Superiore Meridionale, 2021–2023); the Torlonia harbour relief found at Portus (1863), at Pozzuoli (Puteoli), Bay of Naples.
Where is Puteoli and the Alexandrian Grain Fleet today?
In situ at Pozzuoli; Torlonia harbour relief in the Torlonia collection, Rome; grain-ship mosaics at Ostia Antica.
Which Bible verses does Puteoli and the Alexandrian Grain Fleet relate to?
Acts 28:13-14.
Related discoveries
- דֶּרֶךְAssos: Temple of Athena and the First American Excavation in the EastThe clifftop port where Paul rejoined his companions on foot
- דֶּרֶךְVia Egnatia and the Port of NeapolisThe Roman highway and harbour that carried the Good News into Europe
- עֹגֶןMalta: St Paul's Bay and the Roman Anchor ClaimsThe traditional landing site and lead anchor stocks said to be from Paul's ship — unproven
- עַכּוֹAcco / Ptolemais (Tel Akko)The Canaanite–Phoenician port Asher never took, where Paul spent a day with the believers
- קֵיסָרCaesarea MaritimaHerod's harbor city, seat of the Roman governors and home of Cornelius and Philip
- חַלּוֹןAlexandria Troas and the Baths of Herodes AtticusThe port where Paul saw the Macedonian vision and raised Eutychus
Sources
- L. Casson, Ships and Seamanship in the Ancient World (1971)
- B. Rapske, 'Acts, Travel and Shipwreck', in The Book of Acts in Its Graeco-Roman Setting (1994)
- Wikipedia, "Macellum of Pozzuoli" (excavated 1750–1756; built late 1st–early 2nd century CE)
- "Puteoli and the ripa puteolana", Annals of Geophysics (underwater surveys 2021–2023)
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