QuoteROME, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Italian officials on Monday hailed the discovery of a more than 2,000-year-old public building attributed to Vitruvius, the ancient Roman architect and engineer known as the "father of architecture."
"It is a sensational finding ... something that our grandchildren will be talking about," Italian Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli told a press conference.
Vitruvius, who lived in the 1st century BC, is celebrated for having written "De architectura," or The Ten Books on Architecture, the oldest surviving treatise on the subject.
His teachings on the classical proportions of buildings have inspired artists over centuries, including Leonardo da Vinci, whose famous drawing of the human body is known as the "Vitruvian Man."
BASILICA BELIEVED TO BE 'DISCOVERY OF THE CENTURY'
Archaeologists believe they have found the remains of an ancient basilica, or public building, in the central Italian city of Fano northeast of Rome, that was created by Vitruvius.
"I feel like this is the discovery of the century, because scientists and researchers have been searching for this basilica for over 500 years," said the Mayor of Fano Luca Serfilippi.
"We have [an] absolute match" between what was discovered and the descriptions given by Vitruvius in his books, regional archaeological superintendent Andrea Pessina told reporters.
PRECISE LAYOUT DESCRIPTIONS
The basilica had a rectangular layout, with 10 columns on the long side, and four on the short ones, Pessina said.
During excavation, when traces of four columns emerged, archaeologists used Vitruvius' descriptions to calculate where the top right corner column should be. When they started digging, they found it immediately, Pessina said.
"The are few certainties in archaeology ... but we were impressed by the precision" of the match, he added.
Further digging will determine whether more of the basilica lies underground and if the site can be shown to the public, the superintendent said.
(This story has been refiled to add a dropped word in paragraph 9)
Reporting by Alvise Armellini; Editing by Bernadette Baum

QuoteQuoteSo is it worth reading the news today or just leave it at me having seen this thread?
Seems Iran wants to talk.
Quote27 min ago
Israel to continue Iran campaign for at least three more weeks, spokesperson tells CNN
Tal Shalev
Oren Liebermann
By Tal Shalev and Oren Liebermann
The Israeli military is planning at least three more weeks of its campaign against Iran with "thousands of targets" remaining, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) military spokesperson told CNN today.
"We have thousand of targets ahead," IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said. "We are ready, in coordination with our US allies, with plans through at least the Jewish holiday of Passover, about three weeks from now. And we have deeper plans for even three weeks beyond that."
According to the IDF, since the start of the Iran campaign on February 28, the Israeli Air Force has carried out roughly 400 waves of strikes in western and central Iran, focusing on dismantling infrastructure and targeting operatives of the fire, defense, and production units.
Israeli officials say the US and Israel have already struck thousands of targets since the war began.
Defrin told CNN that the IDF is "not working according to a stopwatch, or a timetable, but rather to achieve our goals" which are to "weaken the Iranian regime severely."
He said that the massive US-Israeli offensive against Iran pushed Hezbollah in Lebanon to join the conflict, unlike their decision to stay out during the 12-day war last summer.
"In June, they understood that it's a limited campaign in Iran, so they didn't attack. Now that it's all out, they join in," Defrin said.
Israel's military operations in Lebanon could continue beyond an end to the war in Iran, according to Israeli officials. The IDF is sending more troops to its northern border in an attempt to seize territory and push Hezbollah back.
This post has been updated with additional information.
Quote from: mongers on Today at 07:57:10 AMSo is it worth reading the news today or just leave it at me having seen this thread?
Quote from: Crazy_Ivan80 on Today at 06:09:04 AMQuote from: Syt on Today at 03:56:04 AMI do wonder if this whole mess will accelerate the move towards renewables.
It probably will. Nuclear too.
The oil crises of the 70s did lead to tech that was more efficient.
That said: trees are renewable too and we might end up there as well
QuoteQuoteEnjoying playing 'Egypt - Old Kingdom' - nice with interesting mechanics and lots of historical flavour.Sounds familiar

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