Ancient Roman staircase found

[Primus Pilus]

An Ancient Roman staircase which appears to have led into a previously unknown major building has been found during excavations for a new subway station.

 

Archaeologists immediately dubbed the white-marble staircase, the latest in a trove of finds at the site, ''the imperial steps''. Only a part of the staircase - five steps measuring some ten metres - has so far been uncovered. It is inset into pink granite and the Romans' favourite monumental building stone, travertine...

 

Ansa.IT

[Gaius Octavius]

I wonder how the Romans and other ancients treated their 'ancient' buildings?

[Faustus]

An Ancient Roman staircase which appears to have led into a previously unknown major building has been found during excavations for a new subway station.

 

Archaeologists immediately dubbed the white-marble staircase, the latest in a trove of finds at the site, ''the imperial steps''. Only a part of the staircase - five steps measuring some ten metres - has so far been uncovered. It is inset into pink granite and the Romans' favourite monumental building stone, travertine...

 

I wonder how the Romans and other ancients treated their 'ancient' buildings?

Roman Temples (unlike those of the Greeks) were usually raised about nine to ten feet high to better command the attention of the public gathered there, making steps at the front necessary.

 

Five steps measuring some ten metres has to apply to the width, as the rise in a single step is typically only about 7 inches to about a maximum of 8-1/2 inches. Therefore the total rise here from 5 found steps is about 3-1/2 feet, which is what survives unless there is more down below. This, then, is a thirty foot wide staircase which suggests it goes with a building of a somewhat larger front.

 

The building would likely be wider than the staircase itself because the steps in front of a temple most often were enclosed on both sides with flanking platforms. There is mention of the stairs being