Pompeii's 'House Of The Gladiators' Collapses.

[sufrommich]

Source: Huffington Post

ROME — A 2,000-year-old house in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, which was once used by gladiators to train before combat, collapsed Saturday, officials said.

The site was closed at the time and nobody was injured, but the collapse underscored a controversy over the poor state of Pompeii, one of Italy's main tourist attractions.

The office of Pompeii's archaeological superintendent said the collapse occurred Saturday at around 6 a.m. (0500 GMT). Attendants opening the site saw the collapse about an hour later.

The house, called by the Latin name "Schola Armaturarum Juventis Pompeiani," was closed to the public, and could only be seen from the outside, and it was not considered at risk of collapse, officials said.

Situated on Pompeii's main street, the site was quickly cordoned off.

Antonio Varone, director of Pompeii's excavations, told the ANSA news agency that officials were trying to "preserve up to the last fragment of the 'Schola Armaturarum.'"

There was no official word on possible causes. News reports said water infiltration following heavy rains in the past days might be the cause.

The 430-square-foot (40-square-meter) space was used by gladiators to train before going to fight in a nearby amphitheater, as well as by other athletes. It was also a storehouse for weapons and armor.

Pompeii was destroyed in A.D. 79 by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius that killed thousands of people and buried the city in 20 feet (six meters) of volcanic ash. But the ash also helped preserve Pompeii's treasures, providing precious information about what life was like in the ancient world.



Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/07/pompeii-house-of-the-gladiators-collapses_n_780027.html

[notesdev]

1. That's really too bad

I went there once, still have a load of pictures stashed away somewhere. The excavation site is really eerie, there are calcified human beings frozen at the moment of death among the rest of the preserved ruins.

[Windy]

4. I've been there too. Its an incredible place. I hope they can put the buidling back together.

If you can manage it, a visit is well worth it. The site will make an incredible impression on you.

[SpiralHawk]

2. Notice that this collapse happened right after the Republicon 'tsunami'

As did the volcanic belches of fire and brimstone.

Any right-thinking person must ponder the inescapable question, 'Why does God hate Republicons?' Is it their arrogance, their mendacity, their hypocrisy, or some other scuzzbucket character flaw? We report, you decide.

[flyarm]

3. I was there last Nov and the Nov before..it was incredible! So Sad! eom

[Old Troop]

5. This is what happens when you allow "illegals" to do what Roman citizens won't.

Probably build by some of those dirty Frankish border runners from Gaul.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. I'm sorry to hear that.

[sarcasmo]

7. Next, the American house of cards collapses.

[alfredo]

8. It's easy to find in Google Earth. It adjoins the Odeon.