Experience Ancient Rome Through VR

VR image from "Colosseum" (South Florida PBS)

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By GERRY BARKER
North Palm Beach Life

My first encounter with Virtual Reality (VR) came with the purchase of a Sony Playstation. Donning a futuristic helmet with areas of glowing blue, you suddenly find yourself on a deep dive to the ocean floor, fending off sharks, gripping the side of a snowy peak or trying to escape from zombies on a carnival thrill ride.

As the technology continues to improve, VR is being employed on ever-larger scales. The latest examples of that are found at the South Florida PBS studios in Boynton Beach, which just debuted "Colosseum: The Legendary Arena" and "Napoleon: The Immersive Saga." Each features an introductory film and a selection of historical artifacts before you enter the VR experience.

At the station's VIP reception, we opted to travel back to ancient Rome, planning for a return visit to view the French Emperor's VR in the near future. But before you're ready to stand in front of 80,000 screaming spectators in the Colosseum, you'll need to sign a waiver and receive instructions for your virtual visit to Rome.

First you'll enter a large, mostly empty room where you'll be issued your VR headset and told what to expect when the experience begins, such as avoiding fellow guests that appear as white-outlined avatars, when you're about to approach a real wall or enter an "out-of-experience" area. If you start to feel dizzy or have motion sickness, just raise your hand and someone will assist you.

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Caius in the Marketplace (South Florida PBS)

​Ready? Follow the white footsteps, walk through a door and suddenly ancient Rome unfolds before you. We meet young Caius, who aspires to be a gladiator himself, who serves as a guide. You'll visit a Roman marketplace, where you can even "handle" the food. On the way to the Colosseum, The Colossus of Nero -- a 30-meter bronze statue -- towers above you before stepping onto a platform that slowly takes you to the top of the Colosseum.

While taking in the view, you'll also learn about where the different segments of Roman society had to sit. You'll also meet the legendary gladiator, Flamma, and watch as he battles opponents for the crowd's amusement. Look out when the wild animals are released, and when they flood the arena for epic sea battles, you even get your own chance to wear the gladiator armor. Not only is the experience entertaining, but also educational.

"Colosseum: The Legendary Arena" and "Napoleon: The Immersive Saga" are the latest in a series of successful immersive shows hosted by South Florida PBS, starting with "Da Vinci: Genius" in 2024, followed by "Egyptian Pharaohs" in 2025 and "Titanic: An Immersive Voyage," which is still showing through the end of June.

As stated on their website, "Every immersive journey we create features hands-on activities, interactive elements, custom digital content, and PBS programming integration—designed to inspire lifelong learning and make every visit an active educational experience, not passive viewing."

If you're looking for a summertime diversion, taking a trip to ancient Rome is a good option, especially considering the cost of travel to see the Colosseum in person.

"Colosseum: The Legendary Arena" and "Napoleon: The Immersive Saga" will be showing through Aug. 2.  The recommended minimum age is 12, and parental discretion is advised. Children under 8 are not allowed in the VR area. Note also that unlike the real gladiator games, this version is family-friendly.

For more information, visit the South Florida PBS website.

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