An international team of computer specialists is reportedly claiming that their digital reproduction of ancient Rome is the most complete simulation ever of a historic city...

'Rome Reborn 1.0' as the digital reproduction is named, shows almost the whole of Rome as it appeared at the peak of its power way back in AD 320.

A true-to-life 3D model, 'Rome Reborn 1.0' gives users complete freedom, and they can even enter buildings in the public domain, including the Roman Senate House, the Colosseum, or the Temple of Venus that was ancient Rome's largest and most popular place of worship.

Bernard Frischer of the University of Virginia and the leading light of the project, said, "This is just the first step in the creation of a virtual time machine, which our children and grandchildren will use to study the history of Rome, and many other great cities around the world. The simulation reconstructs some 7,000 buildings at the time of emperor Constantine, when Rome was a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with around 1 million people inhabiting it."

Frischer said experts have rebuilt nearly the entire ancient city, guided along the way by archaeologists and laser-scans of modern-day Rome. The simulated city includes the 13-mile-long wall which was part of ancient Rome, as also interiors of almost 30 buildings, complete with frescoes and decorations.

The group says that in their simulation, statues and monuments appear as they would, sans the remnants of pollution. Besides, computer experts have accurately recreated what is now almost in ruins, for instance the temples dedicated to goddesses, Venus and Roma.

The $2 million-worth simulation, it is learnt, will be used by scientists to run experiments like determining crowd capacity of ancient buildings, and so on. And, 'Rome Reborn 1.0' will be updated to reflect new discoveries as and when they happen.

Meanwhile, video clips and still images of 'Rome Reborn 1.0' can be viewed at www.romereborn.virginia.edu.