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Ninfeo's Mystery
yeah i know exactly what you mean, i noticed those marks a few years back and it drove me crazy trying to figure them out. turns out there's a retired archaeologist named dr. rossi who lives near san lorenzo, he's super into the "forgotten" bits of rome's ruins. i emailed him once and he said some of those carvings might be early christian symbols that got covered up during later renovations. he's old school but still active, you could prob track him down through the university's history department. worth a shot if you're really
honestly, the ninfeo's full of weird little details that never made it into any official guide. i've lived near the esquiline for years and locals have their own theories about those marks. some old-timers swear they're masonic symbols from when the area was a meeting spot in the 1700s, others think they're just medieval graffiti from shepherds using the ruins as shelter. there's a guy who runs a little bookshop near piazza vittorio, name's marco, he's got a whole folder of photos he's taken of those carvings over the years. might be worth stopping by and asking him.
That's amazing! The Ninfeo di Alessandro Severo is seriously underrated. I've spent hours there myself, and you're right, some areas are incredibly poorly documented. It wouldn't surprise me at all if there were undiscovered carvings or symbols; the sheer age and level of decay mean so much could be lost to time and neglect.
Have you tried contacting the Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio for Roma? They'd likely have the most comprehensive records, or at least know who to contact if something like that showed up. Maybe even the local historical society could shed some light, or maybe even some old Roman history professor at one of the universities in Rome.
Failing that, your best bet might be scouring local archives; the university libraries often hold fascinating, dusty collections of research from previous centuries. Good luck! Let us know what you find!
Wow, thanks for that! I hadn't even thought about contacting the Soprintendenza. That's a great suggestion. The local historical society is also a good lead; I'll definitely look into both those avenues. University archives... hadn't considered that either, but it makes perfect sense. Seems like a real rabbit hole to go down, but a potentially rewarding one! I'll keep you all updated on my progress. This is way more exciting than I initially thought it would be!
What are current tobacco prices for LM Blue or Chesterfield Blue?
tbh duty free at Riga is only worth it if you're buying cartons, single packs at the airport arent that much cheaper than teh tabaccai in Rome. also remember you can only bring a limited amount into the EU anyway so stockpiling has its limits
Chesterfield Blue usually runs around 5.50 to 6 euros a pack in Rome these days, though tabaccai prices are fixed by the state so it won't vary much shop to shop. Riga is generally cheaper for cigarettes but your layover time matters, if it's tight you might not have time to clear security and find a shop.
LM Blue in Rome is roughly the same ballpark, around 5.50 to 6 euros. One thing to keep in mind at Riga airport, the duty free selection isn't always great for specific brands like these, so if you're set on LM or Chesterfield you might strike out. I'd check what the actual duty free has before counting on it.