Auris Arrectibus

Maladict already got it right. For your information: The statue's of both Plinius Maior and Plinius Minor are part of the facade of the Duomo of Como (on the site of the ancient Santa Maria Maggiore) which was finished in 1486. Beneath the platform of the statues are episodes of their lives depicted. In one of them Plinius Maior is talking to an anxious crowd with a mountain full of flames in the background: Must be the harbor of Stabiae, when he tried to explain the eruption scientificly and not aware of any danger. It's special that two non-religious civilians from a non-catholic period are represented this prominent. Quote from "The Cathedral and the three basilcas of Como": At the sides of the portal there are the famous podia of the Plinies: Dedicated to two pagans, they became the apolistic visitor's target in 1578, in full climate of counter-reformation, but Bishop Volpi defended them to the bitter end.....

Is it Pliny the Elder in Como? So close! Correction: Bit confusing (try the internet, there mixed up -even italian sites), so I searched my own bookshelfs for the book about the Duomo in Como, I bought in a kiosk next to it. And searched my holiday pictures, the description (see for yourself) below the statue confirm it's the uncle .... The book states the same. The internet (the wiki's, even the italian one, and lot's of travelling-sites) can't be trusted! So, you're right Maladict! It's Gaius Plinius Secundus aka Plinius Maior aka Pliny the Elder, who was born in Como, and lost his life in Stabiae in the pyroclastic flows when the Vesuvio erupted in 24th of August 79 AD. Pliny the Elder was a scientist

Okay Mel, thank you for trying to solve this problem. Back to post: Who do think this guy is?

Better late than never: "Gelukkig nieuwjaar!"

I would go a bit farther and suggest that the vegetation looks like northern France or possibly more likely somewhere 'fairly' near the Rhine in Germany. I don't think that it is in the Netherlands but I may be wrong. I find it an interesting site in that the visible 'standing' masonry looks to be around 4-5 foot (1.2m - 1.5m) high. No, not in the Netherlands ... France it is.

Outside Brittaniae it is ....

Guess I'm lucky: Two strikes in one week. Do you know this guy? unrv1 Challenge me for some clues! Jeroen H de Lange, Amsterdam (sorry, couldn't upload an image in this forum ... so created a link)

My previous posts were too easy, maybe this one isn't. This site also doesn't expect many visitors, though it's an amazing historical place. Good luck, challenge me for some clues.

Ovidius at Tomis?

Well, that was a nice journey, Maladict. Quite a torment. After I found MikroqhbeV, it was easy with the help of an atlas (google-earth), though. Pfoehee .... ! It must be Fthiotides Thebes or "Christian Thebes". Pyrassos (inhabited since 6.000 BC), which is mentioned in the Catalogue of Ships in the Iliad was destroyed in the 3rd century BC and from its ashes rose Fthiotides Thebes. Thousands of objects from 5th-6th century AD and 5 churches, rich of decoration and mosaic floors, were found in the Fthiotides Thebes area. The church of Peter has an impressive length: 75m and counting because not all of the building is excavated yet. Because of these early Christian finds from the Byzantine period, the city is also called "Christian Thebes". The community was destroyed in the 7th AD and never rebuild. So, I guess I got al the clues right, and learned a lot today. Jeroen H de Lange, Amsterdam

Lucky guess: Mystra?

Sardis?

I know this one! Sure this really is Vasio Vocontiorum (Vaison-la-Romaine), city of the Voconti tribe, in the Vaucluse, France. Cath

Not. Should read the last post first, before doing anything stupid.

Then I go for Italy. Apennines in the back and grass halms all over the place. Concrete corinth columns could match..... but where is it?

Looks like Vasio Vocontiorum (Vaison-la-Romaine) in Gallia Narbonensis?

Nice guess, Bryaxis! It's the Arco di Druso in Spoleto, erected in 23 AD in the honour of Tiberius' son. Next!

Okidoki! Try this one. Again with my little girl somewhere in the picture, though a few years back ...

This Map of Roman Britain will help.

Hard one! Found a picture at the internet from a different angle here. Must be Corinium Dobunnorum, nowadays Cirencester.

Bibracte?

Hi Gilius, Don't know where you are from, but if you can read dutch I recommend this book: Vercingetorix, author Fik Meijer. I don't think it's available in English. Some of his books do, like "Emperors don't die in bed". The author is a very inspiring story-teller (non-fiction). He was my teacher of "Classic History" at the university. Often on dutch radio (and sometimes television). The book is very informative about the Vercingetorix and his his struggle to stand up against Caesar and his allies. I red it, and of course "De Bello Gallico", before and during a trip to the Mont Beuvray (Bibracte), Alise St Reine (Alesia) and the "Plateau de Gergovie" near Clermont-Ferrand. When we visit the latter site we were surprised by "Les Arverniales", a so called "spectacle d'histoire vivante". Very nice happening. See: http://www.ot-gergovie.fr/divertir/arverniales/arverniales.html So what do want to know in laymen's terms (jip-en-janneke-taal) that Wikipedia already doesn't? http://www.emersonkent.com/wars_and_battles_in_history/battle_of_gergovia.htm http://www.unrv.com/fall-republic/battle-of-gergovia.php http://www.angelfire.com/me/ik/gergovia.html Jeroen H de Lange, Amsterdam

Any clues Melvadius? Looks not a "city" in the Mediterranean to me. Somewhere at the Continent, north of the Alpes? Jeroen H de Lange, Amsterdam