Journey to Ancient Rome: Interactive Aerial Tour Revives the Glorious City of the Fourth Century

PA cutting-edge 3D reconstruction of ancient Rome allows users to virtually travel back in time, exploring the Roman Empire's capital during its peak.

Created by Indiana researchers, the online tour spans the entire metropolis as it existed in the fourth century, featuring iconic landmarks like the Colosseum, Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla, and the Mausoleum of Augustus. This immersive experience brings to life a city where only about a tenth of its ancient remnants remain.

Creating the Interactive Tool To Explore Ancient Rome

Flyover Zone, an educational technology company, has unveiled "Rome Reborn: Flight over Ancient Rome," a comprehensive digital model providing both aerial and ground-level views of the city's historical monuments, including the Colosseum, Pantheon, Baths of Caracalla, and Roman Forum.

The recreation is set in A.D. 320, just before the capital shifted to Constantinople, marking the decline of the Western Roman Empire. At its zenith, Rome housed a population of one million, featured a skyline with approximately 7,000 buildings, and spanned 5.3 square miles.

Created by Bernard Frischer, the project began in 1974. The digital archaeologist from Indiana University Bloomington was inspired by a physical model of ancient Rome at the Museum of Roman Civilization in Rome. He envisioned a computerized version and, over decades, collaborated with archaeologists, historians, and engineers to ensure accuracy.

The meticulous process involved referencing historical texts and photographs of ruins to create a 1-to-25 scale digital replica, offering an immersive experience of the fourth-century European capital.

Frischer described the reconstruction process as "tedious" but emphasized its significance in providing an instantaneous understanding of ancient Rome's appearance.

The initial version launched in 2007, followed by subsequent releases in 2008 and 2018. The fourth version, unveiled on November 8, introduces updated recreations of monuments not included in earlier versions, such as the Baths of Caracalla, temples on the Capitoline Hill, the Stadium of Domitian, and the theaters of Balbus, Marcellus, and Pompey the Great.

Inside the 3D Reconstructed Ancient Rome

The focal point of the digital reconstruction is the Colosseum, erected under Emperor Vespasian in AD 70-72, serving as the largest ancient amphitheatre for gladiator battles, animal hunts, and executions. Despite earthquake damage and stone theft over the centuries, about a third of the Colosseum remains.

Adjacent is the Temple of Claudius on the Caelian Hill, once housing the Imperial cult of Emperor Claudius, now partially visible. The Pantheon, a preserved Roman temple with eight Corinthian columns, stands as the only ancient building remaining intact and continues to attract millions of tourists yearly. The Mausoleum of Augustus, the world's largest circular tomb, built by Roman Augustus in 28 BC, is also featured.

The free tour on Yorescape, a streaming platform, includes commentary from Professor Frischer. Yorescape offers various virtual tours, and Flyover Zone, presenting Rome Reborn, provides 13 additional tours, including Athens and Giza.

The Yorescape app, typically $49.99 annually, offers a free one-week trial subscription until the Nov. 8 launch. Professor Frischer aims to ignite curiosity and appreciation for ancient Rome's beauty, grandeur, and innovation.

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