Let’s rebuild the Colosseum!

An Italian architect has outraged archaeological experts by suggesting that the exterior wall of Rome’s famous Colosseum should be rebuilt – and even sponsored by Coca-Cola. According to a report in The Independent newspaper, 78-year-old Carlo Aymonino, who is currently restoring the city’s ruins of the Temple of Jupiter, does not want to completely restore the ruin, but merely “close the circle” by replacing the missing part of the exterior wall. He reportedly said the work “could even be sponsored, who knows, by Coca-Cola”. He added: “Think, we could tell the whole world that we have completed the Colosseum.” Aymonino also reportedly wants to remove the road that leads up to the famous building, which was laid by Mussolini, covering many ruins in the process. The Independent reports that archaeological experts are “howling down the ideas”, with one quoted as saying the proposal is “a terrible idea”. Report by Tim Gillett, News From Abroad