Roman Emperor Vespasian's Villa Found

Source: Discovery News
Rossella Lorenzi



Aug. 6, 2009 -- The summer villa of Roman Emperor Vespasian has been found in the Sabine hill country northeast of Rome, Italian archaeologists announced today.

Titus Flavius Vespasianus is known for rebuilding the Roman Empire following the tumultuous reign of Emporer Nero. Vespasian changed the face of Rome by launching a major public works program, which included the construction of the Colosseum, the structure that arguably defines the glory of ancient Rome.

Dating back to the first century A.D., the massive villa, adorned with mosaic floors, baths and marbled halls, has emerged following four years of digs near the town of Cittareale, in the province of Rieti.

The villa not only is located near the place of Vespasian's birth at Falacrinae (Vicus Phalacrinae), but also may be the site where he is said to have died.

"We are talking of a unique, 15,000-square-meter (161,459-square-foot) villa. We found no inscription that says it belonged to the emperor, but the location, dating, size and quality of the building leave little doubt about its owner," Filippo Coarelli, the archaeologist of the University of Perugia who led the excavation, told Discovery News.

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/08/06/vespasian-villa.html

A two page article, and attending video.

;-)

But the planning for that mosaic floor must have been something!

I didn't actually test the link... :blush:

I know what you mean about the planning; I painted a 15,000 sq. ft. new construction mansion a few years ago, but over 15,000 sq. meters?! :crazy:

Notice how straight and finished those foundation walls appear?