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Umberto Broccoli, the head of archaeology at Rome's city council, has stressed the seriousness of his proposed nighttime gladiator fights (no Disney comparisons, per favore!). Bolstering his claim is the sideshow to the main event—readings of works by Latin poets. Broccoli was quoted as saying that "museums and monuments must speak to the public in a new way," and, indeed, Roman officials are rethinking some of the city's iconic sites and how best to present them.
3D Rewind Rome is a virtual tour that uses motion capture technology to bring scenes of ancient Rome to life. The attraction, created in partnership with the city, launched in November near the Colosseum, on the site of barracks where gladiators once lived and trained (€10/$13).
Rome is embarking on an ambitious makeover not only of the Colosseum, but the Palatine Hill, the Roman and Imperial Forums, and Nero's Golden House, with a deadline of 2011. The to-do list includes extensive cleanings, an integrated lighting system, an underpass that would link the forums, and a walkway up to the Palatine [via Archaeology Briefs].
Even as the city upgrades, it's becoming a better value for Americans, who will enjoy more room to themselves at ancient sites. The New York Times points out that a slump in tourists—and in the value of the euro—make the next few months a great time to visit Rome: "Crowds are more manageable, airfare is cheaper, and shops are offering major sales." Demand for horse-drawn carriage rides has dropped 35 or 40 percent compared to three or four years ago, according to a carriage driver stationed near the Colosseum.
PLANNING A VISIT
Rome Hotels at a Price That’s Right
Real Deals: Rome
PREVIOUSLY
Be Skeptical of Rome’s Plans for Gladiator Theme Park
Rome: The Forum’s No Longer Free
A Virtual Tour of Ancient Rome
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The celebrations in honor of Vespasian's birth (one of my favorite Emperors) seems appropriate, but I think they're a bit early in celebrating the Flavian Amphitheater itself. Seems to me celebrating its 2000th would be a better plan.
Anyway, how can you trust someone whose name is a less-than-favorite vegetable? :-)
Posted By David Emery on January 22, 2009, 4:26 PM
At least for our generation it makes more sense to honor Vespasian who initiated the building of the Colosseum. A few of us won't be around when the 2000th Anniversary of its completion comes around in 2080! Carpe diem!
Posted By Ilse Stratton on January 22, 2009, 9:50 PM
I thought the best 2,000 anniversary to honor would be the State Visit of the Ruler of Taprobane (ancient Sri Lanka) to the divine Augustus. His entourage included War Elephants (how the ancients shipped them from Ceylon to Red Sea coast of Egypt intrigues me). This visit perhaps was a kiss-and-make up over Ceasarion, the son of Julius Caesar and Cleopatra; whom Cleopatra planned to ship off to one of the rulers of Sri Lanka or the Malabar Coast as a political refugee upon Augustus' takeover of her kingdom. The South Asian ruler agreed. All believed India/Ceylon would be beyond the reach of the new First Man in Rome to kill his natural rival Ceasarion. But apparently Augustus sounded conciliatory to his adoptive father's only real son. Ceasarion (probably about 15 at the time) was persuaded not to board the ship for South Asia but instead return to Alexandria --where he was promptly put to death by order of Augustus.
However, there appears to have been a legacy of potential ill will over South Asia's willingness to accept this political refugee in the first place.
The State Visit would have smoothed this over.
Perhaps Italy and Sri Lanka could commemorate this historic event with a joint stamp issue.
Posted By John Siefert on January 23, 2009, 5:14 AM
What about the other kinds of events for which the Colosseum has become so famous? Will there be, for example, any feeding of christians to the lions? Good stuff.
Posted By Brian Holland on January 23, 2009, 3:33 PM