Basilica of Vitruvius found

[guy]

The Basilica of Vitruvius has been discovered in Fano, Italy. Vitruvius was the great Roman architect of the first century BCE.
 

The basis for the claim is Vitruvius himself, who described this specific building in De Architectura, the only structure he attributes to himself.

 

 

 

 

 

https://arkeonews.net/archaeologists-confirm-fano-discovery-as-vitruvius-legendary-basilica-a-turning-point-for-classical-architecture/

Archaeologists state that the uncovered ruins correspond to the proportions, layout, and architectural features Vitruvius described for the basilica. These features include a rectangular public building, along with consistent dimensions and structural elements.

Here is Vitruvius’ description of the structure:

Quote

6. But basilicas of the greatest dignity and beauty may also be constructed in the style of that one which I erected, and the building of which I superintended at Fano. Its proportions and symmetrical relations were established as follows. In the middle, the main roof between the columns is 120 feet long and sixty feet wide. Its aisle, round the space beneath the main roof and between the walls and the columns, is twenty feet broad. The columns, of unbroken height, measuring with their capitals fifty feet, and being each five feet thick, have behind them pilasters, twenty feet high, two and one half feet broad, and one and one half feet thick, which support the beams on which the upper flooring of the aisles is carried. Above them are other pilasters, eighteen feet high, two feet broad, and a foot thick, which carry the beams supporting the principal raftering and the roof of the aisles, which is brought down lower than the main roof.

https://share.google/JZKoQhGBTuwm3QfVw

 

 

 

Edited January 22 by guy

[guy]

 

Here’s a more in-depth article on the discovery. The article also discusses the concept of “predictive archaeology.”

 

Quote

 

The confirmation of the site came through a remarkable feat of predictive archaeology. Because Vitruvius had written down [in De Architectura] the specifications of his Fano basilica so precisely, archaeologists could essentially use his ancient book as a treasure map.

The structural system described by Vitruvius involved pilasters and corner supports designed to hold massive weight. When traces of the initial columns appeared, the team used the treatise to calculate exactly where the building’s fifth corner column should be located.

 

 

https://www.zmescience.com/science/archaeology/basilica-in-italy-is-first-confirmed-building-by-vitruvius-the-father-of-architecture-experts-call-it-the-discovery-of-the-century/

Edited January 22 by guy

[guy]

Here’s a good description on the find. (Be sure to set the translation to English.)