Person pointing to roof of the Ear of Dionysius in Syracuse, Sicily.

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The limestone cave known as the Ear of Dionysius was given its name in 1608 by the painter Caravaggio. Apparently the Greek tyrant Dionysius l kept political prisoners in the S-shaped 65 metre long and 23 metre high cave and due to the particular acustics could from a balcony high up in the wall and having its own entrance hear the slightest whisper made by the prisoners within.

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Size: 3400px × 5100px
Photo credit: © Stephen Bisgrove / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: Yes

Keywords: acoustics, ancient, archeologico, cave, della, di, dionisio, dionysius, ear, eavesdropping, greece, greek, italy, listen, neapolis, orecchio, parco, prison, sicily, spy, syracuse