"The Milion" or 0 milepost from which all roads from New Rome (a.k.a. Constantinople) were measured.

A spiral column commemorating the Greek defeat of the Persians stood in front of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi from 478 BC until Constantine plundered it to adorn his Hippodrome. It originally had three serpents heads at the top.

Granite obelisk carved in Egypt around 1450 B.C. to commemorate the victories of Thutmose III. Theodosius I brought it to Constantinople in 390 AD. It's in remarkably good condition.

A good example of "recycling." When Justinian built a huge cistern he reused columns and architectural items from demolished buildings. Here's one of two heads of Medusa used as pedestals for a column. The piece is lying on its side.

(left) The magnificent Hagia Sophia - Church of the Holy Wisdom. Built by Justinian in 537, it reigned as the greatest church in Christendom until the fall of Constantinople in 1453. Mehmet the Conqueror converted it to a mosque. Ataturk proclaimed it a museum in 1935. On the right is one of the beautiful mosaics that adorned the interior. When Hagia Sophia was converted to a mosque the mosaics were plastered over. Today they are being restored.

Here are two statues from a great collection at the Istanbul Museum of Archeology. On the left is Tyche, Goddess of Good Fortune. The Tychaion in Alexandria Egypt was featured in my novel Selene of Alexandria. It was converted to a wineshop which induced one ancient poet to comment on the fallen fortunes of Fortune, "Thou who had once a temple, keepest a tavern in your old age." On the right is a statue of Athena in her aspect of Selene, Goddess of the Moon.

Altar where Julius Caesar was supposedly cremated. People still leave flowers ala Elvis Presley.

The Rostrum in the Roman Forum where Caesar, Marc Antony, Cicero and other famous people made their speeches. The Rostrum was so-called because it was originally hung with the prows of ships defeated during the Punic wars.

This ancient toilet uncovered in Pompeii still looks functional. The Romans built all their cities with extensive sewer systems and aqueducts to supply water.

The Mickie D's of Pompeii. Most people ate their noon meal out at fast food places like this. The holes held jars of hot food and the people ate standing or sitting at very small tables in the back.

Hollywood got it wrong. Remember all those movies that showed us the sparkling white Roman cities and citizens dressed in white togas? Well the real thing was much more colorful. The Romans painted their statues and decorated their walls in lush colors. They delighted in colorful clothing - just like us. These pictures are from homes in Pompeii.