This topic was posted , thanks BenLurkin.
Posted on 06/11/2007 2:21:35 PM PDT by BenLurkin
ROME - Computer experts on Monday unveiled a digital reproduction of ancient Rome as it appeared at the peak of its power in A.D. 320 — what they called the largest and most complete simulation of a historic city ever created.
Visitors to virtual Rome will be able to do even more than ancient Romans did: They can crawl through the bowels of the Colosseum, filled with lion cages and primitive elevators, and fly up for a detailed look at bas-reliefs and inscriptions atop triumphal arches.
"This is the first step in the creation of a virtual time machine, which our children and grandchildren will use to study the history of Rome and many other great cities around the world," said Bernard Frischer of the University of Virginia, who led the project.
The $2 million simulation will be used by scientists to run experiments — such as determining the crowd capacity of ancient buildings — and as a scholarly journal that will be updated at each new discovery of one of Rome's marvels.
Frischer also said students and tourists can also use the program to learn about ancient Rome.
The simulation reconstructs some 7,000 buildings at the time of emperor Constantine, when Rome was a vibrant and cosmopolitan city of about 1 million people, said Bernard Frischer of the University of Virginia, who led the project.
Guided by laser scans of modern-day Rome and advice from archaeologists, experts have rebuilt almost the entire city within its original 13-mile-long wall using the same computer programs architects use to plan new constructions, he said.
It even includes the interiors of about 30 buildings — among them the Senate, the Colosseum and the basilica built by the emperor Maxentius — complete with frescoes and decorations.
The simulation shows statues and monuments as they would appear without the dark smudges left by pollution. The computer experts also were able to accurately recreate buildings that are now almost in ruins, such as the temple dedicated to the goddesses Venus and Roma and the Meta Sudans, a fountain that stood near the Colosseum, Frischer said.
The program was created over 10 years by an international team of archaeologists, architects and computer specialists from the University of Virginia and UCLA, as well research institutes in Italy, Germany and Britain, he said.
Way kewl; very interesting. Wish I’d had this resource when I was reading Coleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series, even though this is set later in Rome’s history than her books. (Would be nice if the restructing project had a time lapse feature...i.e., a ‘building of Rome’ feature.)
"Noooooo! Rome's peak of power was under Trajan."
~~~~~~~~~~
No fooling. There was a brief period of prosperity when Constantine reunited the Empire during this time, but the glory days were the rule of "The Five Good Emperors" ... Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pious, and Marcus Aurelias.
Come bello: Look at the web site.
That was the peak of Roman expansion, anyway. That said, 320 probably makes for better sightseeing in Rome itself. Less brick, more marble, more looted swag, better wonders.
1Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
***
Revelation 21:18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass.
Rev 21:19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald;
Rev 21:20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst.
Rev 21:21 And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass.
Rev 21:22 And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
Rev 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
Rev 21:24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it.
Rev 21:25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.
Rev 21:26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.
Rev 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
***
Matthew 16:28 Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom!
From brick to marble reminds me of a (much) earlier Emperor:
"Since the city was not adorned as the dignity of the empire demanded, and was exposed to flood and fire, he so beautified it that he could justly boast that he had found it built of brick and left it in marble. "
Suetonius - Life of Augustus Book XXVIII
sic friat crustulum
I liked the video clips on the site. However, they need to use more color in their clips.
Instead of a stringed instrumental from the Renaissance, what this video needs is a narrator that names the buildings and describes the area.
Unless you were Helen Thomas, you’d be hard pressed to recognize all the landmarks of Ancient Rome.
AMEN!
AMEN!
AMEN!
Thanks.
Given that the History Channel used Rome: Total War for a series of their documentaries, it wouldn’t surprise me if they took the graphics from a video game.
Cool stuff, though. It would be cool if someone would build a full physical replica of the scale of that digital one. Imagine being able to tour that!
I'm sure, my friend, you and I wouldn't be around anymore.
|
|
|||
Gods |
Just updating the GGG info, not sending a general distribution. |
||
|
· Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · Google · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists · |
|||
This topic was posted , thanks BenLurkin.
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.
