The Greek-Roman Theater of Taormina: Towards a Reconstruction Proposal (original) (raw)

2019, Proceedings of the 22nd International Conference on Cultural Heritage and New Technologies 2017.

This article presents some results achieved by the IBAM CNR for the reconstructive study of the Greco-Roman theater of Taormina, aimed at the realization of a CG film presented at the G7 summit (26-27 May 2017). The reconstruction is currently presented to visitors on display inside one of the two basilicas at the entrance to the theater. The work was commissioned by the archaeological park of Naxos-Taormina and proposes the ancient monument in its original appearance in two distinct phases. The first phase, dating back to the first quarter of the 2nd century AD, involves an impressive renovation, with the expansion of the seating capacity and the construction of an external ambulatory, in addition to the reconstruction of the whole frons scaenae. The second phase is ascribable to the 3rd century, and changes the theater building and the orchestra, with the transformation of the orchestra area into an arena, a testimony to the tendency to replace theatrical performances with gladiatorial games and venationes. Our reconstruction uses rapid 3D relief methodologies based on drone and ground photogrammetry, together with the interpretative potential offered by the 3D modeling environment. This approach has led to some unpublished solutions, such as the solution of the connection of the velarium with the hill supported only by ropes. However, the main objective of this work is linked to understand the architectural of the monument in an overview that places it in its original context and that allows visitors to appreciate the various elements of its originality. The role of the specialist in virtual archeology is closely connected to the dialectical relationship between humanistic knowledge and the possibilities offered by 3D modeling and simulation tools. Only from a continuous verification in 3D of the technical-constructive, dimensional and spatial aspects, is it possible to validate some hypotheses that come to life from the philological study of the sources, from archaeological data, and from contemporary comparisons. Many of the original results, achieved by heterogeneous teams of humanists and virtual archeology specialists, are possible thanks to this moment of verification and study of monuments directly in the 3D environment. Very often only a minimal part of the reconstructive hypothesis proves plausible and compatible with functional logic and the constructive and stylistic principles used by a given civilization in a precise historical period. Thanks to the continuous verification of the possible relationships between historical-aesthetic information and technical-constructive principles, which are closely intertwined with observations and possible deductions in a 3D environment, we are now able to filter the various solutions. The analysis of the dimensions and the observation of the constructive elements in space, facilitated by the digital approach, allows for the determination of the incidence of loads and the thrust of arcs and vaults, to interactively visualize the structures, and to overlap the traditional analyses with the archaeometric analyses (e.g. georadar, IR, etc.). In this approach, the basic survey and the different interdisciplinary contributions are placed in touch with the reconstructive phase. All deduction develops