Posted on 08/16/2013 12:37:53 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
The Roman emperor Commodus might have cultivated the skills showcased in Ridley Scott’s blockbuster film “Gladiator” in a personal miniature Colosseum on his estate near Rome.
Archaeologists from Montclair State University, in New Jersey, believe that a large oval area with curved walls and floors made of marble is, in fact, the arena where the emperor killed wild beasts, earning the nickname “the Roman Hercules,” as recorded in historical writings.
Found in Genzano, a village southeast of Rome which overlooks Lake Nemi, a crater lake in the Alban Hills, the oval structure measures 200 feet by 130 feet and dates to the 2nd century.
It was found by the U.S. team as they excavated thermal baths at an estate known as the Villa of Antonines.
Based on literary references and the discovery in the 18th century of marble busts of imperial figures, the site is believed to have been the property of the Antonine Dynasty (138–193), which begun with the reign of Antoninus Pius and included emperors Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus and Commodus.
“We first noticed a small section of a curving structure next to the baths. Ground-penetrating radar mapped out the entire foundations revealing new specular curving structures,” Deborah Chatr Aryamontri, a co-director of the excavation, told the Italian daily Il Messaggero.
Forming an ellipse, the arena could sit more than 1,300 people. It featured an imperial box and was richly decorated with mosaic tesserae and luxurious, imported marbles.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.discovery.com ...
Is this not why you are here? ;’)
I like that, but still prefer the AC/DC version.
He should not stow thrones.
There’s a picture of zero later in the topic. ;’)
I kennel imagine that diet, collar me skeptical.
***I read (probably in an Amazon review) that the movie was basically a high-end remake of a gladiator flick from about 1960.***
THE FALL OF THE ROMAN EMPIRE, a Samuel Bronston production. Filmed in Spain by the same producer of EL CID, 55 DAYS AT PEKING, and others.
Check it out on www.imdb.com
consider me vexed.
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