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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
 Posted - 09/16/2009 : 19:06:29
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What on Earth? #63: Former City
One point for each question. Let's consider how we might do this one systematically:
1. Considering the city's planned grid pattern and the forms of the major buildings, this city likely belonged to what civilization?
2. Considering its likely age (see your answer for # 1 above for a general idea), looking at the city's state of preservation and its environs, and knowing about the extent of the civilization it represents, in what general area is it likely located?
3. Now that you suspect its general location, find the former city by either standard scholarly research, Googling, by laboriously exploring with Google Earth, or by pure magic. What's either its original or its present name?
Click for larger version
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
Edited by - HalfMooner on 09/16/2009 19:07:05
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Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 09/16/2009 : 20:52:55 [Permalink]
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1; The advanced grid planning seems reminiscent of the Roman civilization as does the presence of the amphitheatre and of the central forum. So, Roman would be my guess.
2; It's in great shape and the surroundings seem pretty dry so... North Africa or Middle East?
Romans had a strong presence in Tunisia and left plenty of ruins there; so that'd be a logical guess too. |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 09/16/2009 : 21:14:01 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Simon
1; The advanced grid planning seems reminiscent of the Roman civilization as does the presence of the amphitheatre and of the central forum. So, Roman would be my guess.
2; It's in great shape and the surroundings seem pretty dry so... North Africa or Middle East?
Romans had a strong presence in Tunisia and left plenty of ruins there; so that'd be a logical guess too.
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I'll award two points for those guesses, Simon. Congrats!
Note both Pagan temples and Christian churches, indicating this city's period of habitation spanned at least part of the late Roman period.
I still hope someone will solve the identity of this remarkably preserved Roman city in the desert.
The standings:- Hal, 15 points
- lorddix, 4 points
- Randy, 3 points
- bngbuck, 2 points
- Hawks, 2 points
- Simon, 2 points
- steinhenge, 2 points
- Dave W., 1 point
(Ties are listed in alphabetical order.) |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 09/16/2009 21:16:49 |
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bngbuck
SFN Addict
USA
2437 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2009 : 01:03:05 [Permalink]
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| Tadmor (Palmyra), Syria? |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2009 : 03:25:55 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by bngbuck
Tadmor (Palmyra), Syria?
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No.
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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Hal
Skeptic Friend
USA
302 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2009 : 12:08:46 [Permalink]
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OK, it took a while, but I finally found it.
Timgad, in Algeria. |
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity.
Martin Luther King Jr.
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Simon
SFN Regular
USA
1992 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2009 : 15:40:09 [Permalink]
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| Good job, have a cookie! |
Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.
Carl Sagan - 1996 |
| Edited by - Simon on 09/17/2009 15:40:44 |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 09/17/2009 : 16:51:25 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Hal
OK, it took a while, but I finally found it.
Timgad, in Algeria.
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Correct for one point, Hal!
The standings:- Hal, 16 points
- lorddix, 4 points
- Randy, 3 points
- bngbuck, 2 points
- Hawks, 2 points
- Simon, 2 points
- steinhenge, 2 points
- Dave W., 1 point
(Ties are listed in alphabetical order.) |
“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
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WoE # 63: Former City
