Jan 14th, 2008
Moving on the Via Flaminia
The ancient Roman Via Flaminia can now be walked on, thanks to a new virtual museum at the Roman Museum of the Diocletian Bath. Using data collected from satellite, scans and ancient texts, a team of 20 architects, archeologists and computer experts recreated the famed road. If you don’t know, this road connected ancient Rome to the northern city of Ariminum (Rimini).
While in the virtual museum, users can create avatars à la Second Life to travel on the road. The idea is to allow tourists the opportunity to see difficult-to-access monuments and landmarks.
I’m wondering what is the point of this type of re-creation. Does computer science of art history benefit from this or is it simply another way to create entertainment with an historical background? In that case, how is it different from other theme parks where visitors are taken in an alien world or undersea? So many questions, so little answers :o)
