Posted on 01/24/2015 3:48:35 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Traces of painted red numbers have been discovered during the ongoing restoration of the Colosseum, indicating various sectors of the amphitheatre similar to the seating system employed by today's stadiums.
The numbers were painted on the arches of the Colosseum to guide visitors to their respective stands, according to their social class. Describing it as an "exceptional discovery", the monument's director Rossella Rea said that restorers had not expected the painted numbers to have survived.
The director of the restoration project Cinzia Conti said the discovery proved the delicacy of the water-powered process, which removes dirt and smog residue but preserves the ancient surface beneath.
The €25-million restoration of the Colosseum began in 2013 and is sponsored by Italian shoe magnate Tods.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
Romans had a good sense of humor.
Nice link, thanks! The original large circus in Rome used wood for the risers or bleachers, and most of its construction, and went in the fire of Nero. It was rebuilt as the Circus Maximus, with much more stone. Some of that was quarried out over the centuries for use in new construction, some of it remains visible, some of it sank into the swamp.
The first barbarians into the city must have been amazed by what they found, and must have figured the city was filled with great wealth. The started a group called Occupy Rome, and stayed there until they realized there was nothing to sack. :’) My favorite painting of it, Louis Alma-Tadema’s, is a time-travel fantasy, but shows his idea (or borrowed idea) of the sun shade mechanisms up at the top of the structure:
http://www.hoocher.com/Sir_Lawrence_Alma-Tadema/Alma_Tadema_The_Coliseum.jpg
Sir, this gentleman has tickets for those seats. You’ll have to move.
Tods sponsored this? Great! I now have additional justification for my Tods driving shoe fetish...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
