Latest news with #Brittanica
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
A Construction Crew Was Restoring a City Hall—And Found an Ancient Roman Theater Underneath
Here's what you'll learn when read this story: An earthquake in Sisak, Croatia, forced renovations to the local city hall, and revealed a Roman-era theater in the basement of the building. The discovery sheds new light on the history of the city and its stature as a Roman outpost. Archaeologists uncovered semi-circular rows to hold audiences, and even the theater's stage. A damaging earthquake in Croatia had an unexpected bright side—revealing hidden Roman-era secrets. Crews working in the basement to restore the city hall of Sisak, Croatia, after a 2020 earthquake discovered a small Roman theater, complete with stone rows and the theater's stage. The find, as announced by Croatia's Ministry of Culture and Media, shows how Sisak grew from a Roman military outpost into a full-fledged city sometime during the third century A.D., with the small theater, known as an odeon, a sign of the prominence. According to Brittanica, an odeum is a small concert hall, typically constructed as a theater for both musicians and orators to perform. They were not as grand as amphitheaters, but were similarly designed so that all instruments—or voices—could be easily heard. Archaeologists called in to investigate the discovery uncovered three parallel semi-circular rows of stone blocks to hold an audience (all roughly 65 feet across), space for an orchestra, and the theater's podium (stage). 'This extremely valuable find, which provides new insight into the size of the ancient city and further completes the interpretation of the urbanism of ancient Sisak,' the ministry wrote in a translated statement. At some point, a 'monumental building with buttresses' was built over the theater, although archaeologists said more research is needed to understand what that building was designed for. The city hall structure was constructed in 1914 over the older buildings already on site. Croatian officials didn't know the odeum existed under the city's main government building until the 2020 earthquake, which caused structural damage to the site that required extensive underground work. Structural reinforcement needs sent crews digging below the existing structure, and that effort revealed the history of the site. To avoid again burying the odeum, the city has preserved the ruins at the current location and created a window into the past with glass flooring. While the northern Croatia city is now known as Sisak, it was once Roman Siscia, and was most prominent in the late third century, according to Atlas Obscura. It was even named a capital city in 295 A.D., and was known for minting bronze coins for Rome. The restoration of Sisak's city hall has revitalized its original color, the original design of the main entrance (created by Dionis Sunko in 1914), the original main gable, and the original tiling of the building. Not much of the original Siscia still remains, save for a piece of a defensive wall outside the Sisak Cathedral. This newly-discovered Roman odeum has now become a prominent piece of the city's history, and will be a part of its future for many years to come. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Newsweek
08-05-2025
- General
- Newsweek
Why Did Robert Prevost Choose The Name Pope Leo XIV?
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Cardinal Robert Prevost has taken the name Pope Leo XIV, becoming the first American to lead the Roman Catholic Church in its 2,000-year history. His decision to adopt the name "Leo" places him in a lineage associated with strong leadership. Prevost, a 69-year-old Chicago native, appeared before thousands on a balcony overlooking St. Peter's Square following his election by the College of Cardinals. With the white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel, Prevost was introduced with the traditional "Habemus Papam," and his new title, Pope Leo XIV, was announced. Cardinal Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV, appears before his faithful on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025, in Vatican City. Cardinal Robert Prevost, the new Pope Leo XIV, appears before his faithful on the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica on May 8, 2025, in Vatican City. Stefano Spaziani/AP The name "Leo" harkens back Pope Leo the Great, who served from 440 to 461 and, per Brittanica, persuaded the Huns not to attack Rome. Who is Cardinal Robert Prevost? Ordained in 1982, per College of Cardinals Report, Leo received a doctorate in canon law in Rome at the Pontifical College of St. Thomas Aquinas. Born in Chicago, Pope Leo XIV spent some of his clerical career in Peru before being appointed by Pope Francis to lead the Dicastery for Bishops in 2023. There, he was responsible for selecting bishops. Before he was named the new pope, the Rev. Michele Falcone, a priest in the Order of St. Augustine, told The New York Times Prevost represents the "dignified middle of the road." His reputation for humility and collaboration reflects a continuation of sorts of Francis' pastoral vision. Why Did Robert Prevost Choose the Name 'Pope Leo XIV'? The choice of "Leo" as a papal name is historically potent: The name has been adopted by 14 popes. The most recent before Prevost was Pope Leo XIII, who led the church from 1878 to 1903. He had the fourth-longest reign of any pope and produced the encyclical Rerum Novarum. The symbolism of the name could be a nod to Saint Leo the Great, a doctrinally influential early pope. While Prevost has not explicitly confirmed his reasoning for the name, the lineage he joins includes Leo III, who crowned Charlemagne as Holy Roman Emperor in 800, and Leo X, who excommunicated Martin Luther in 1821. What Did Donald Trump Say About Robert Prevost? Trump reacted to the selection of Pope Leo XIV, writing on Truth Social: "Congratulations to Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, who was just named Pope. It is such an honor to realize that he is the first American Pope. What excitement, and what a Great Honor for our Country. I look forward to meeting Pope Leo XIV. It will be a very meaningful moment!" What's Next Pope Leo XIV now begins the task of steering a global church. His selection resulted in celebration among global Catholics, and Americans, due to the historic nature of the selection.
