Ancient Rome comes back to life in virtual model

[Viggen]

Tourists puzzled by the jumble of buildings in classical and modern Rome can now find their bearings by visiting a virtual model of the imperial capital in what is being billed as the world's biggest computer simulation of an ancient city. "Rome Reborn" was unveiled on Monday in a first release showing the city at its peak in 320 AD, under the Emperor Constantine when it had grown to a million inhabitants.

 

Brainchild of the University of Virginia's Bernard Frischer, Rome Reborn (www.romereborn.virginia.edu) will eventually show its evolution from Bronze Age hut settlements to the Sack of Rome in the 5th century AD and the devastating Gothic Wars.

 

full article at Reuters

[Nephele]

Exciting news! I noticed yesterday that M. Porcius Cato had put up the university link to this project.

 

http://www.unrv.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=6700&hl=

 

The Altair Multimedia folk did some similar work that can be found in the book Ancient Rome on Five Denarii a Day, including temple interiors.

 

I hope the Rome Reborn folk eventually do interiors of ancient Roman temples -- and private homes, too! Does anyone know if that's in the plans? (I see the article mentions private homes, but will that include interiors?)

 

-- Nephele

Edited June 12, 2007 by Nephele

[M. Porcius Cato]

There's also a nice write up in Wired Magazine. Note reference to Titus Pullo at the end.

Edited June 12, 2007 by M. Porcius Cato