From brick to marble: Did Augustus Caesar really transform Rome?

UCLA - A computer model of Augustan Rome shows marble buildings in pink, buildings under construction in yellow, brick buildings in brown, white buildings in travertine and gray buildings as randomly generated infill buildings. With degrees in Etruscology and Roman architectural history, Diane Favro has traveled to every corner of the Roman Empire, from Algeria to Germany to Lebanon, and written several books on the subject matter as well as worked on a long list of digital research projects that explore the ancient world. But the answer to one question about Rome during the reign of Caesar Augustus eluded and intrigued this UCLA professor of architecture and urban design. According to legend, the founder of the Roman Empire once famously boasted, "I found Rome a city of bricks and left it a city of marble." Was he telling the truth or making an empty claim? Did Augustus really transform the eternal city from brick to marble, Favro wanted to know. To find out, Favro decided to uncover the truth behind Augustus' famous declaration by using advanced modeling software to reconstruct the city of seven hills in its entirety and observing how it changed during the period when he was in power. "Many scholars have looked at Augustus' claim from a political standpoint, as a metaphor for him transforming a republic into an empire," Favro explained. "I wanted to see if Rome literally transformed under his rule." Favro has previously worked on digital projects that have focused on Rome as well as Karnak, one of the world's most expansive temple complexes in Egypt.