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On a large plot of land in Italy, in Campania and near the coast (but a
relatively safe distance away from Vesuvius - safer than the original,
anyway) build a full-scale replica of
Pompeii
based on the archaeological facts but using contemporary materials
to
save on cost. Decorate and furnish
the city as far as possible as it
would have been in the early part of 79AD (pre-eruption). Install CCTV cameras everywhere, inside
and outside buildings (there would be areas that would be
designated
as private).
Nearby, build a combined visitor centre, research building, and
support
facility.
Populate the city with volunteers, students and experimental
archaeologists plus craftsmen and reenactors, with appropriate
domestic and domesticated animals. In the beginning of the experiment there would need to be a certain amount of "pump-priming" i.e. an external supply of bread (or pre-milled flour), meat, etc. until the population grew large and stable enough to fulfill those functions internally. There would of course be a continuous supply of appropriate foodstuffs (grain, wine, grapes, fruit, animals etc.) from the surrounding countryside, but these would have to be "paid" for, as would any materials that the city would have to import in normal circumstances; refined metals, timber, charcoal, clay for pots.
Participants agree to "live" the Roman lifestyle full time in the city for
a
minimum of 28 days. This includes clothing, diet, work, leisure. They
would agree to have no contact with the modern world unless there
was an internal (medical) or external (family) emergency. They can,
however, write and receive letters, and would be encouraged to keep a diary. Basic fluency in Latin woud be a
requirement. Vegetarians and the squeamish need not apply.
They would also be available to
be
questioned during their stay by the researchers who would enter the
city "in
character". Everything woud be recorded by the CCTV system for
academic analysis although the pay-per-view webcams in the
brothels might be a useful source of revenue.
At the end of their stay they would be debriefed on their experience.
Tourists would be allowed in, but only in small, carefully supervised
parties, in costume and possibly performing appropriate tasks i.e.
bringing goods to market.
A huge amount of invaluable data on how a Roman city really
worked
could be obtained. The city would also make a great film set.
Some aspects such as combat in the arena would have to be
moderated to fit in with modern sensibilities. Animals would receive
modern veterinary attention if required.
However, the problems of keeping food fresh in the absence of
refrigerators, and of disposing of waste, would be part of the
research.
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Annotation:
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// a safe distance away from Vesuvius// [=] |
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//combat in the arena would have to be moderated// [=] |
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[poc], no animals would be hurt or mistreated. |
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[MB] "relatively safe" then ... |
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Makes the edit, gets the bun. |
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...but //no animals would be hurt or mistreated// -
cats? |
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Fighting cats in a gladiatorial arena is a non-starter. They're too quick,
even for a Retiarius. The only way to win is to tape their legs with
parcel tape beforehand, and that's not very authentic. |
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Lions and tigers are cats |
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We suggest that you validate your thesis by applying parcel tape
to the legs of an adult tiger. |
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That should amuse the crowd for a few minutes before the main
show. |
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//volunteers, students and experimental archaeologists// |
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Of these, which would volunteer to be the slaves? |
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Presumably the ones that want a month's free bed and board ? |
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In today's Italian economy, that might work. |
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There's a possibility that you might get more reality-overlap than you bargained for, with some of the "slave" population being drawn from among recent immigrants already living in near-slave conditions. |
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No problem. If they can speak Latin (or learn as they go, as real slaves from other parts of the Empire would have to do) then they're in. |
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//problems of keeping food fresh in the absence of refrigerators |
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Not a particularly a big deal, did six months without a fridge just to see how possible it was. It's more awkward not having a microwave imho. |
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[not_mrm] - interesting, but were you relying on having easy access to shops which kept food in refrigerators? You not having a fridge is not the same as a (general) "absence of refrigerators". |
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There was one arena in Pompeii, rumoured to be run by
a rather portly ex-soldier who had consumed his
bickering wife in small packed lunches while attending
the events. |
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When asked if he felt any remorse, he replied that he had
none. In fact, he was glad he ate her. |
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If a foodstuff has all that done to it, the edibility is probably going
to be fairly low ... but it might be useful as a building material ... |
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