Page 21 - All About History - Issue 27-15

Tourism

4 MUST-SEE
How not to… protect historical sites
Some historical landmarks, such as the touncovertheancientcityofTroy.In1871, SIGHTS
pyramids of Giza and Stonehenge, have been hebeganexcavationswherehebelievedTroy
preservedforthousandsofyears,attracting waslocated,andbelievingthatthehistorical THECOLOSSEUM
many tourists to glimpse them every year. citymustlayatthelowestlevelofthestacked
However, even more have been destroyed and cities he discovered, quickly made his way 70-80 CE
lost forever. Thanks to war, pillage and more throughtheupperlevels.Schliemannused Thelargestamphitheatreinthe
recently,construction,manysitesofhistorical various rough methods and even dynamite to world, the Colosseum could hold
importancehavebeendestroyedordamaged flattencitywalls.Infact,thelevelSchliemann up to 80,000 spectators and was
beyond repair. wasdeterminedtouncoverwasbuiltseveral usedforanarrayofpublicevents
However,whatmaybeoneofthebiggest thousand years before the Troy of Helen. It and spectacles.
archaeological losses in history was actually is believed that Schliemann and his team
theworkofthearchaeologistwhosetoutto ploughed through and destroyed the ancient
findit.HeinrichSchliemannwasdetermined city,whichisnowlostforever.

THEPANTHEON
126
Originally built during the reign
of Augustus, this temple of the
gods was later reconstructed by
emperor Hadrian.

Relaxinthebaths Watchachariotrace
Thebathsareamust-seeattractionofAncientRome, TakeatriptotheCircusMaximus,oneofRome’slargest
03 andperfectforthepoorertraveller,aseveryonecan 04 venues, to witness adrenaline-pumping chariot races. If
affordtogo.SomeofthemostfamousbathsinRomearethe you’renotintothat,there’slotsmoretosee–horseandfootraces, ROMANFORUM
Diocletian, Caracalla and Trajan. While there you can play sport, gladiatorduelsandwildbeasthunts.InthereignofProbus,the 497 BCE
exercise,chatwiththelocalstofindoutthegossiporsimplytake site was transformed into an artificial forest for hunts and filled As well as housing important
it easyandrelaxinthethermalsprings. withanimalssuchasostriches,zebras,rhinosandpolarbears. governmentbuildings,theforum
servedasalargemarketplaceand
satatthecentreofRomanlife.

BATHS OF DIOCLETIAN
306
Although the city had many public
baths, the Diocletian baths were
the largest and most luxurious.
It is also believed they may have
housed libraries.
Takepartinafestival Enjoysomefood
ThebesttimetovisitAncientRomeisduringoneof Thestandardofeatingwillverymuchdependonyour
05themanyfestivals.MostfestivalsinRomearereligious 06status and how much money you have. Poorer travellers
and involveeveryoneinthecity.Thereisahugechoice,buta cangotoaninnforanadequatemeal,butthosewithhigherstatus
literalonce-in-a-lifetimeeventnottomissistheseculargames, maybeinvitedtoaprivatebanquet.Hereyoucandineonmany
held once every 100 years. The games last for three days with differentcourses,butsomeofthemoreunusualincludebaked
theatrical performances, chariot racing and, of course, sacrifices. dormouse, stuffed sow’s uterus, rabbit foetus and peacock tongue.
© Ed Crooks

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