Someday in the not so distant future the wonderful Museo della Civilta' Romana will move from its current location in Rome's outlying EUR neighbourhood to an already selected location near the Circus Maximus. And when that happens a lot more people will get to see the artifacts and reconstructions (for example, a marvellous room-sized plaster reconstruction of ancient Rome). But, in the meantime, the exhibition on Ancient Roman Technology that opened December 23 for a four-month stint, may lead many to decide that the trek to the outlying district - in effect only a metro-ride away - is well worth the moderate effort.

(ANSA) The new show is designed to document the technological secrets behind the might of the Roman Empire . Some 100 examples of ancient Roman machines - from rotating platforms to freight elevators for wild beasts - are on display at the for the show and many are reproductions that can be touched by visitors eager to understand, first-hand, the ancient mechanisms that were in use some 2000 years ago. Florentine craftsman Gabriele Niccolai based his reproductions on studies of surviving machines and literary accounts but used computer technology to design and re-proportion the models.

Divided into 11 sections, the show covers different areas of strategic importance to the creation of the empire, including construction, military technology, agriculture, communications and transport.

Among the highlights is an array of impressive war machines, including Niccolai's models of a battering ram and a siege tower with retractable gangways used to get troops over enemy walls.
Visitors can also crank into action models of cranes and pulleys used to build bridges, aqueducts and theatres as well as a water mill and a wheeled plough.

While most of the machines on display were powered by water, wind or animals, the exhibition also acknowledges the invention of the first ever steam engine by Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria in the 1st century AD, when Egypt was a Roman province. The steam engine, or aeolipile, spun when heated but never caught on with the Romans, who weren't convinced it was rational to burn expensive fuel to create another kind of energy, according to Correnti Percivalli.

Particularly impressive are the Colosseum's freight elevators, which transported caged wild animals from their stalls underneath the amphitheatre up to the arena for public fights, as well as the venue's massive retractable awning, or velarium, which was operated by squads of sailors and shaded spectators in the seating area from the sun.

Also highlighted is a hinged mechanism with seven wooden eggs and seven bronze dolphins used to signal the number of laps run by chariots at Rome's Circus Maximus, and the resonating bronze vases developed by 1st-century BC engineer and writer Vitruvius to function as primitive loudspeakers to improve sound quality in theatres. Machina: Technology of Ancient Rome runs at the Museo della Civilta' Romana until April 5.

Behind-the-scenes wizardry at public entertainment venues such as theatres, amphitheatres and chariot racing stadiums is also examined. The final section of the show highlights the machines and methods behind the creation of mosaics, frescoes and sculptures.