A lecture by Marina De Franceschini and Giuseppe Veneziano on archeoastronomy in ancient Roman buildings.
Archaeoastronomy studies the astronomical orientation of ancient buildings – such as Stonehenge, perhaps the most famous example.
Marina De Franceschini and Giuseppe Veneziano were the pioneers in the study of archaeoastronomy in ancient Rome – a field that had received very little attention before their work.
Their first discovery, made in 2009, took place at Hadrian’s Villa in Tivoli – a site that Marina De Franceschini, an archaeologist and researcher, has studied extensively.
Her cooperation with archaeoastronomer Giuseppe Veneziano provided scientific calculations to confirm a brilliant insight she had: the phenomenon known as the «Blade of Light».
Together, they posed a simple question about ancient Roman structures: «Are they [astronomically] oriented?» This question expanded the field of their research, leading to a growing number of discoveries.
Their presentation will «amaze you with special effects» – that is, the extraordinary illuminations they discovered within three masterpieces of ancient Roman architecture. Villa Adriana, Pantheon and the Mausolum of Hadrian (Castel Sant'Angelo).
These buildings were commissioned by Emperor Hadrian 1,900 years ago – long before computers – and were designed to last for eternity.
Our multidisciplinary approach begins with a hypothesis, which is then tested through theoretical calculations by Giuseppe Veneziano, followed by on-site verification via direct observation of these illuminations – the most magical and fascinating aspect of our work.
Marina De Franceschini focuses on the archaeological and anthropological features, to understand and explain the symbolic meaning of these illuminations, which occurred only on specific days of the year.
Their studies have been published by Rirella Editrice in several volumes, which you can purchase here:
«Villa Adriana, Architettura Celeste. I segreti dei solstizi» (Italian only)
«Pantheon. Architecture & Light» (English edition)
«Castel Sant’Angelo. Mausoleum of Hadrian, Architecture & Light» (English edition)