[Discov] Roman Emperor Vespasian's villa found!!! OMFG

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Roman Emperor Vespasian's villa has been found



An archaeologist works on the site of Roman Emperor Vespasian's summer villa. Titus Flavius Vespasianus, the emperor who ordered the construction of the Colosseum, ascended to the throne at the ripe old age of 60 and remained emperor until his death at age 69




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.
According to the archaeologists, Vespasian might have built his sumptuous summer house near his birthplace to show off his wealth and power.
"The exact location of Falacrinae has long been the subject of debate. We now know that this village of ancient Rome lay near Cittareale, " Pierluigi Feliciangeli, the mayor of Cittareale, told Discovery News.
Indeed, the rediscovery near Cittareale of an ancient Roman inscription celebrating a Falacrinae resident at the Social War in 91-88 B.C., has made it possible to identify the ancient village.
In a parallel dig, archaeologists found the remains of Falacrinae -- tombs, vases, and various artifacts which are now on display at the Cittareale museum.
"We have Falacrinae and we have this huge villa. It all points to Vespasian. This is an incredible finding for Cittareale," Feliciangeli said.
According to Coarelli, the most spectacular section of the villa is the floor of the main hall, made of polychrome marbles quarried in North Africa. Two other rooms have delicate mosaic floors.
"Indeed, this is an exceptional finding," Coarelli said.

A highly regarded military commander, Vespasian became emperor in 69 A.D., at the grand old age of 60.
He became the fourth emperor that year, following a power struggle and a civil war to succeed Emperor Nero.
Despite his tumultuous ascent to the throne, Vespasian was known for his success in rebuilding the Roman Empire following years of war and strife under Nero. His reign is remembered as a time of peace and tranquility.
In 72 A.D., Vespasian started the construction of the Flavian Amphitheater, later dubbed the Colosseum. The building was inaugurated by Titus in A.D. 80, a year after his father's death, with games that lasted 100 days.
According to the historian Suetonius, Vespasian was in his summer villa in the mountains near Rieti when he died.
"He injured his bowels by too free use of the cold waters," Suetonius wrote in his De Vita Caesarum (The Life of the Caesars), a set of twelve imperial biographies from Julius Caesar to Domitian.
"At last, being taken ill of a diarrhea, to such a degree that he was ready to faint, he cried out, 'An emperor ought to die standing upright.' In endeavoring to rise, he died in the hands of those who were helping him up," Suetonius wrote.





The marble floor of the summer villa. Dating back to the first century A.D., the massive villa was adorned with mosaic floors, baths and marbled halls. Researchers speculate that Vespasian may have built his summer villa near his birthplace to show off his wealth and power


Source: http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/0...ian-villa.html

[SigniferOne]

Whoa! If there are some artistic findings from the site, don't hesitate to post them!

[DAVIDE]

The area of excavations

[nopasties]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8190955.stm

'Roman emperor's villa' unearthed


The villa has floors with marble from across the Mediterranean region

Archaeologists in Italy say they have unearthed the remains of a sumptuous villa thought to be the birthplace of the Emperor Vespasian. The ruins were found in the Roman city of Falacrine, about 80 miles (130km) north-east of Rome.
The villa's location and luxury suggest it was probably Vespasian's birthplace, an archaeologist said.
Vespasian lived from AD9-79. He was emperor from AD69-79, restoring peace after a period of civil war.
The villa in Falacrine stretches over 14,000 sq m (16,750 sq yards).
The archaeologist leading excavations there, Filippo Coarelli, said it was not marked as belonging to Vespasian's family, but its extravagant trappings were an indication of its ownership.
"It's clear that such things could only belong to someone with a high social position and wealth. And in this place, it was the Flavians," he said, referring to Vespasian's dynasty.
The villa was decorated with luxurious marble "coming from the whole Mediterranean area", he told the Associated Press news agency.
Vespasian, whose full name was Titus Flavius Vespasianus, had a successful military career before becoming governor of Africa and an aide to the emperor Nero.
The Colosseum was begun under his rule with spoils of the AD70 conquest of Jerusalem.
He was the founder of the Flavian dynasty of emperors.

[DAVIDE]

i have already posted this. I merge it with the other thread