Zark's

Discovering Vespasian's Summer Residence

Wiki reminds us that Vespasian was Roman Emperor from 69-79 AD.  He came from a military family and became famous for squelching the Jewish rebellion of 66.  The root of the conflict was Greeks sacrificing birds in front of a synagogue in Caesarea.  Because the Roman garrison did not interfere, escalating attacks upon Romans citizens and their supporters began, resulting in King Agrippa II and Berenice fleeing to Galilee.  A Roman legion and auxiliary were defeated, resulting in Emperor Nero appointing Vespasian to end the rebellion.

Nero of course, was rapidly losing his sanity, and was finally declared an enemy of Rome by the Senate.  He fled, and to a villa outside of Rome where he committed suicide.  A civil war ensued, where Rome had four emperors in a single year.  After successfully regaining control of Judea, in 69 AD, he returned to Rome, leaving his son Titus to complete the assault and siege of Jerusalem.  Supported by the Roman military, he was declared Emperor by the Senate in 69 AD, at the age of 60.

Roman Emperor Vespasian's Villa Found tells that the emperor's summer residence has been discovered near the town of Cittareale (click for the Google Earth view), northeast of Rome.  The Discovery Channel's article adds that Vespasian was born in nearby Falacrinae, and may have built the 161,459 square foot villa to impress former friends and family.  Perhaps not, because Vespasian was a builder - during his rule, several major structures such as the Colosseum were constructed.

It was in his summer villa that he died in 79 AD.  Wiki notes that Vespasian was bright and good-natured.  In response to a philosopher who repeatedly slandered him, he said, "I will not kill a dog that barks at me." 

Ventotene - A History Lesson

Ventotene is a volcanic island off the western coast of Italy.  (About 2/3 down down the peninsula, before the instep of Italy's geographical 'boot'.)  The satellite imagery from Google Earth is uncharacteristically of very poor quality, but Bing has some nice imagery.  The island does look like a weathered-down ancient volcano.  Some of the coastline has sheer rocky cliffs, and other regions like, well, a platform of rock.  It is scenic and gorgeous, but Florida is it not.

Wiki tells that ancient Rome used the island to banish nobles, notably females.  It was here the emperor Augustus banished his daughter Julia for her adultery.  Tiberius banished a grand-niece similarly, and several other caesars also practiced sending relatives who they disfavored to the island.  Most of the women perished from starvation.  Looking at the satellite imagery, you can understand why - there is not much vegetation on this small island, although it now has 700 permanent residents.  During World War II, Mussolini established a prison on the island and later, a garrison of German soldiers operated a radar station on the island. 

Archaeology tells that Roman shipwrecks have been recently discovered off the coast of Ventotene.  Ancient Roman shipwrecks found off Italy coast provides some some pictures of the cargo carried by five shipwrecks ranging from first century BC to fourth century AD.  Archaeologists find graveyard of sunken Roman ships speculates that the ships had been attempting to find safe anchorage during stormy weather, and did not quite make the island's natural harbor. 

Aurora provides details of the five individual sites.  The first four sites are from first century BC and exhibit cargos of Rome-produced goods such as wine.  Site 5 from 4th century AD shows that Rome has begun importing goods that it once exported.  The Reuters' article also discusses the pattern of trade exhibited by the wrecks - first producing and then importing.

What is old is new again.  Perhaps the recent trade pattern developed by western countries over the past 20-50 years is the same phenomena that Rome developed in the latter years of the empire.