A Reconstructed Roman Temple

[Theodosius the Great]

In modern Armenia there's a place called [size=150:kf7q9027]Garni[/size] which has a reconstructed Roman temple made entirely from original pieces. This is an example of the type of reconstruction I've been advocating for other countries to finance. Anyone else know about this temple ? I searched the threads but nothing came up.

They did a great job I must say 8)

~Theo

[Gaius Julius Caesar]

Well they are currently doing the third reconstruction of the temple of Nike on the acropolis, in Athens, because they got it wrong the first 2 times, if I am not mistaken. Who knows how accurate it is?
Still, it looks good!

[Jona Lendering]

This is an example of the type of reconstruction I've been advocating for other countries to finance.

I think this particular example is just great!

Still, it creates troubles. To what building phase do you bring back a building if it has had more than one building phase? For instance, the Forum Romanum has a lay-out from the time of Augustus, additions by Vespasian, Antoninus Pius, and Severus, and was completely renewed by Diocletian. In an attempt to reconstruct the Augustan phase, the Diocletianian rostra in front of the Temple of Caesar, was demolished. That is just not good. Besides, the present state of the Forum Romanum, stripped of its medieval additions in the age of Mussolini, tells an interesting story about the 20th century too.

But to return to possible projects: when there is one building phase, I see no objections. Lepcis Magna is a case in point. Which reminds me that I must continue to put online my photos!

[DanM]

I just saw a similar thing, the parthenon in nashville, I learned more than I did in scool.

[Goffredo]

Hi Jona
I agree with you as I have Rome and other italian cities in mind. Every intervention requires a choice and has to be well argued before proceeding, but even then future generations may say "hey those guys ruined it!". I think every generation has to decide what is worth preserving for the next one and, if possibile, should do so in a reversibile way. Any touch-up or add-on should be removable by future restorers. But if a subway has to be built then drastic losses will occur. The best you can do there is to document as best as possible what will be lost forever.

A few years ago in the musuem of Diocletian's Bath by the main train station of Rome the was a nice exhibit that showed plastics and photographs of what was lost when they dug up the ancient neighborhood that was where the train station is now. Before the constuction of the station that part of rome was not heavily ubanized and the roman ruins were quite impressive (complete neighbourhood with shops and house both modest and rich). I was saddened that those ruins were not with us anymore but then how could the capital of italy be without a central train station. Anyway I was impressed by how well documented the ruins were before they were destroyed. I figured the people did the best they could.

Someone mentioned constructing real replicas, others using only computers. I personally think computers are the cheapest and most valid as any hind sight changes can be made. I bad replica is a bad constuction and should be torn down! Instead a computer image can be changed and alternative theories on how the building looked in any one moment in time, or even how it changed over time, can be made with the click of a mouse (not mentioning huge amount of work behind such projects).