Roma Eterna alla Disneylandia

[Ludovicus]

Why a theme park of Rome of 2000 years ago? Why not one of Constantine's Rome? Why not St. Gregory's? To isolate a single layer of the City would be to dumb down what is essentially Rome, an ancient, yet living past. And I haven't even touched on the temptations to embellish and distort a single layer for the sake raking in the almighty euro.

Unfortunately, dumbing down makes something more broadly appealing, and therefore more lucrative. I think we will find in this theme park of 'Rome 2000 years ago' elements of Roman history from the founding of the city to the sack of Alaric. Horatius defending the bridge will probably be in there, along with abundant depictions of Romulus, Remus and the wolf. Turn a corner and there will probably be some sort of shooting gallery based loosely around the Aurelian walls, with barbarian horsemen to shoot. Giant heads of Constantine, made from polystyrene, will abound.

 

Most of the unthinking public regard everything in the Roman period as happening 2000 years ago. On a local BBC TV programme aired several years ago, a 4th century find was featured. The archaeologist being interviewed had to several times stress that the find was 1600 years old, in answer to repeated dumb questions such as 'These are coins from 2000 years ago?' or 'Was this a busy street, back then 2000 years ago?'

 

 

Yes, every cliche` ever invented. But isn't it our responsibility to respond? If not, why this website and forum?

[ASCLEPIADES]

From ABC news (Australia):

 

"With the ruins of ancient Rome, the splendour of Vatican City and countless Renaissance art treasures, what does Italy's capital lack to attract tourists?

 

The answer, according to the mayor's office, is a Disneyland-style theme park.

 

"The model is Euro-Disney in Paris," said Deputy Mayor Mauro Cutrufo, announcing plans to build a vast ancient Rome theme park just outside the city which he says could be up and running within three to four years.

 

The park would provide family-friendly attractions to show visitors what life was like in the Rome of 2,000 years ago.

 

To be built on an as yet unspecified 1,000-1,200 acre site, it would put a Roman twist on rides like Disneyland's Pirates of the Caribbean, in which visitors float on boats through a fantasy pirate world.

 

"You would relive scenes from the Colosseum, from ancient Rome, gladiators or maybe Julius Caesar or other things," a Rome city official said, ..."

Now here's a closer model: "L'Empire Roman" (the Roman Empire) from Parc Ast