AN ANCIENT MAP
Scientists study mystery map in Roman ruins
May 27, 1998 Web posted at: 3:29 a.m. EDT (0729 GMT)
From Rome Bureau Chief Gayle Young
ROME (CNN) -- Beneath the Eternal City, an accident has unveiled a mystery that has archaeologists excited but puzzled.
In the ancient Baths of Trajan, near the Colosseum, a worker accidentally scraped away part of a wall this spring,
revealing a map some 2,000 years old.
But a map of what?
"It's certainly not Rome, because the features don't match," says site superintendent Eugenio La Rocca.
"Also, it's not London, as has been suggested."
Historians are considering the possibility that it's a mythical city, or a figment of the artist's imagination,
but La Rocca is not convinced. "It's possible it's Atlantis, but we don't think so," he says.
"It's so precise, we believe it's a real city."
While experts compare the map to the layout of known ancient cities, modern technology has been brought to bear on the question.
Experts have enhanced the faded colors of the painting, and built a three-dimensional model based on it.
Art historians are also intrigued -- the painter used shadowing and perspective techniques that were uncommon in the first century
A.D., and painted buildings reflected in water.
Perhaps most intriguingly, the map is painted from an overhead perspective, as if the artist was hovering above the city gates.
Though historians have the best of modern technology and surviving ancient documents on their side, the map may never be understood;
the city it depicts and the artist who painted it may have left no other tracks to follow.
This is the image in the above picture to the left. It looks very much like a building with scalloped roof on it.
Even though these pictures are hard to see, I find them amazing, but frustrating to work with.
This is just a closer view. It seems to be very ornate.
This is the square building to the right lower section of the map. It has some odd features.
Often you just have to stare at these images to see the fine details.
Maybe I have been looking at Mars too long, but these pictures remind me of some of those images.
This is the image from Mars South Polar Region.
The bright areas have been toned down as they were a stark white from the snow/ice for softer viewing.
I thought the similar structures were very much the same.
The scientists who are reviewing the map say that this is an unknown city. We live in strange times.
I have to keep an open mind.
I felt you would think that this was rather interesting to see them together.
I know this is very difficult to see. This is the back area. There seems to be many tall towers.
Some hard to describe statues maybe?
This is the far left from the image above.
I have no idea!
This is from the center. The tall thing dead center could be a building or a statue.
Doing this from a fresco is a bit tricky to say the least!
The strange figures in the front of this pic almost look like letters of some sort.
Just guessing....
This is to the far right. More unusual images. The one to the right looks like ...
HORUS
Son of Isis and Ra, the ancient Messiah
Copyright ©1998 Liz Edwards, All Rights Reserved
Page Updated: - Wednesday - May 27, 1998 - 10:56:36
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