Posted on 02/19/2015 1:12:27 PM PST by SunkenCiv
Archaeologists investigating the Tuscan island of Elba have identified the remains of the villa belonging to the real-life individual that inspired one of the principal characters in the epic tale of Ben-Hur.
Overlooking Portoferraio's bay, the once magnificent 1st-century B.C. villa has long been believed to have been owned by Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus, portrayed as Ben-Hur in the Hollywood blockbuster starring Charlton Heston.
Now in ruins, the property was known as Villa Le Grotte (the Caves) because of the shape of its vaulted facades facing the sea.
While Ben-Hur was a fictional villain dreamed up in Lew Wallace's 1880 novel and immortalized in the 1959 MGM movie, the Messalla character was based on a real-world historical figure. Marcus Valerius Messalla Corvinus was a member of one of the oldest and most important families in Rome, the patron of the poet Ovid, and a commander at the battle of Actium in 31 B.C., fighting for Octavian against the forces of Mark Antony and Cleopatra.
The now ruined villa has long been associated to Messalla's patrician family but no evidence was ever found to confirm the speculation. It is known that the poet Ovid, of whom Messalla was patron, went to visit Messalla's son on Elba prior to his exile on the Black Sea. However, in his account Ovid doesn't provide any detail about the place he was staying.
Startling evidence about Le Grotte's owner came when archaeologists excavated the area just below the villa. Along with the remains of a large collapsed building, five dolia, large earthenware vases, were uneathed. Each vase could hold between 1,300 and 1,500 liters of wine. Clearly, the site was a farm serving the Roman villa.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
It was 8 times as good as the Alan Brady Show.
These days, I would not have been surprised to hear they had cast Angelina Jolie in the Ben-Hur role with Messalla being played by Will Smith. . . to introduce a sex interest in their early friendship and rivalry. Pontius Pilate would be played by Rosie O'Donnell. Who would they cast as Jesus?
If you get the time to read Ben Hur, you wont regret it. The opening chapter where the 3 wise men meet is awesome, and really sets the tone of the book. I think it’s a shame that their tale of simple faith was left out of the film.
Wallace spent the rest of his life trying to explain why he took a day and a half to march ten miles from Crump to Shiloh.
Ahhh...Selene. So beautiful yet so dangerous.
Based on the criteria you've outlined, probably Snoop Dog.
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