While parts of the early Roman built world survive in exceptional sites such as Pompeii and Herculaneum, Roman architecture is unevenly preserved across the empire. Recent excavations at Piazza Andrea Costa in the Italian city of Fano (ancient Fanum Fortunae) provide an opportunity to recover the architecture of a mid-sized Italian city, one not subjected to the constant rebuilding that took place in the capital. Archaeologists believe they have identified the remains of a Roman basilica in Fanum Fortunae built by the late first-century BCE architect Vitruvius.There's not a very direct connection between this discovery and the New Testament, but it's always good when new evidence improves our material feel for life in the ancient world.
As it happens, the Penguin translation of Vitrivuis' On Architecture has been sitting on my coffee table for some time, glaring at me to be read. I suppose that's the main reason the story caught my eye. Maybe I will get to it soon.
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