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The article itself is a bit light on actual specifics, but perhaps the ancient literature is less inclined to write about some project out in the provinces that
by Simon_ORourke 3y ago
The article itself is a bit light on actual specifics, but perhaps the ancient literature is less inclined to write about some project out in the provinces that didn't quite come off as planned, versus some of the eye-watering stuff they actually accomplished. I've not read Suetonius for a good 20 years or more, but I vaguely remember some piece where he recounts about having the engineering saavy to flood the amphitheatre in Rome to host mock naval battles. Well mock battles in the sense that the poor guys actually fighting and dying are only doing "pretend" battles, but you know what I mean.
- golergka 3y agoA lot of ancient writers didn't shy away from writing awful things about emperors. You could say that it was for propaganda purposes of their successors, but regardless of their motives, why wouldn't they write about their construction failures as well?
- boomboomsubban 3y agoAttempting a public works project could still be seen as a positive thing? "Nero at least tried to build new baths, what has Domitian ever done for us?"
- a_gnostic 3y agoROMANI ITE DOMVM!
- npsomaratna 3y agoROMANES EUNT DOMUS!
- bimguy 3y agoRemember, we aren't talking about modern society with access to a ton of recording essentials, we are talking about a very select few educated individuals (given the overall population) that were probably preoccupied writing much more important things then a building project failure.
- Simon_ORourke 3y agoSure, there were plenty of "hit pieces" in the Twelve Caesars, but in what was effectively ancient tabloid press, what will generate more interest - a story about how a given emperor's temple foundations were inadequate, or some spurious story about the emperor wanting to enroll his horse as a senator?
- jfengel 3y agoEspecially remarkable since there are tunnels under the floor of the Colosseum. Holding up feet of water without collapsing... Very impressive. Or maybe they just flooded the tunnels too but hoo boy is that gonna suck to clean up.
- zilti 3y agoThe flooding and naval battles were done in a time before the colosseum had tunnels underneath iirc. After these were dug, no more naval battles.
- Keyframe 3y agoYou've reminded me now that I've read somewhere as a kid that they would also roll a giant stone ball through a corridor around Amphitheatre, probably Colloseum in order to simulate thunder sound effect, probably demanded special floor surface. I cannot tell whether true or not, but I did read it.