Roman gladiators' house collapses

This was picked up by special correspondent Sophia

Posted Sun Nov 7, 2010 1:23pm AEDT

The 2,000-year-old House of the Gladiators in the ruins of ancient Pompeii has collapsed, sparking fresh debate on whether the Italian government is doing enough to safeguard a world treasure.

The stone house, on the main street of the famous archaeological site and measuring about 80 square metres, collapsed just after dawn while Pompeii was closed to visitors, officials said.

Custodians discovered the collapse when they opened the UNESCO World Heritage site for the day.

The building was damaged by bombs during World War II and was restored in the late 1940s. Officials speculated that the collapse may have been caused by heavy rains.

The structure was believed to be where gladiators gathered and trained and used as a club house before going to battle in a nearby amphitheatre in the city that was destroyed by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD.

Known officially by its Latin name "Schola Armaturarum Juventus Pompeiani," the structure was not open to visitors but was visible from the outside as tourists walked along one of the ancient city's main streets.

Its walls were decorated with frescoes of military themes.

Measures were being taken to thwart further collapse, officials said.

Decay, garbage and looting

Art historians and residents have complained for years that the archaeological sites at Pompeii, among the world's most important, were in a state of decay and needed better maintenance.

Two years ago the Italian government declared a state of emergency for Pompeii. It lasted for about a year and allowed for extra funds and special measures but critics have said the special intervention was badly managed.

Opposition politicians were quick to criticise the government of prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, particularly culture minister Sandro Bondi, for the site's degradation.

Archaeologists and art historians have long complained about the poor upkeep of Pompeii, dogged by lack of investment, mismanagement, litter and looting.

Bogus tour guides, illegal parking attendants and stray dogs also plague visitors.

Some 2.5 million tourists visit Pompeii each year, making it one of Italy's most popular attractions, and many have expressed shock at the site's decay.

Two-thirds of the 66-hectare town, home to some 13,000 people in the Roman era, have been uncovered since serious excavations began some 260 years ago.

The remaining third is still buried and many modern buildings have been constructed over it.