When Google Earth was first launched in 2005, people all over the world were experimenting by tapping in key coordinates or location details and getting a chance to gain a bird’s eye 3D view of the area. Such locations were as diverse as the Statue of Liberty or the London Eye, or even viewing the rooftop of your own house. Now Google Earth has taken a step further into recreating the historical city of Ancient Rome.
Users are able to visit this historical virtual city which depicts a populated country dating as far back as 320 AD. Millions of people can take their tour around the city by zooming around the map visiting the Forum of Julius Caesar, peering over the Basilica or even virtually standing in the centre of the Roman Colosseum. Many historians will also be impressed with the fact that this adds to five centuries of knowledge and information.
Bernard Frischer of University of Virginia worked with Google on the virtual reconstruction, comments “The project is a continuation of five centuries of research by scholars, architects and artists since the Renaissance, who have attempted to restore the ruins of the ancient city with words, maps and images”. Young people and adults alike are able to participate in taking a step back in time, gaining a strong insight into this period.
This is the first historical city to be reconstructed by Google, which contains 6,700 buildings, over 250 key landmarks and is available in various languages. Past Perfect Productions are a firm that reconstructs historical sites in virtual reality format, also played a key role in the construction of the project with Google. The firm’s chief executive Joel Myers said “Cultural heritage, although based in the past, lives in the present, as it forms our identity. It is therefore our responsibility to ensure its conservation, to nourish it and make it accessible, with the objective of promoting global understanding. Ancient Rome in 3D is a major step towards this goal.”
The 3D virtual model was based on the Plastico di Roma Antica, which is the actual physical model of Ancient Rome. This was originally constructed by a number of archaeologists and model makers between 1933 and 1974, and is kept at Rome’s Museum of Roman Civilisation. The map was unveiled at an event in Italy, with much praise from the current Mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno.
This is an ideal opportunity for avid historians or students to experience and learn more about Ancient Rome on a deeper and virtually personal level. With Ancient Rome being the first historical city on Google Earth, it begs to wonder where and how far back will Google Earth take us next.
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