Imagine Lyon nearly 2,000 years ago: that's the time-traveling adventure Mickaël Defour offers through his 3D models. The ancient theater, the Odeon, and even the now-gone amphitheater of the Three Gauls regain their past splendor on the hill of Fourvière. Using specialized software and topographic surveys, he brings a vivid and immersive face to Lugdunum of the 2nd century.
Hundreds of hours of work to bring history back to life
For the past two years, this enthusiast has been dedicating his evenings and weekends to reconstructing the entirety of the ancient city. His goal is clear: to provide an immersive experience accessible to everyone via YouTube, where many treasures remain confined to museums. Inspired by artists like Jean-Claude Golvin, Mickaël pushes the experience further...
acute;experience further by harnessing the possibilities offered by 3D.To achieve greater precision, Mickaël does not settle for visible ruins: he explores the region in search of clues. For instance, we might spot him near the Gier aqueduct in Brignais, photographing and sketching the ancient arches before transforming them into digital images. Each reconstruction begins with a drawing stage, ensuring coherence before the final rendering.
A colossal project in the making
A children's animator in his everyday life, Mickaël embraces an artistic project more than a scientific one. He has no intention of confining himself to academic rigor, even if his work...also captivates historians, who sometimes provide welcome details. This blend of passion, creativity, and rigor is what makes his approach so unique.
Re-immersing the entire city of Lyon in its Gallo-Roman past is a colossal challenge. But with patience and passion, Mickaël progresses stone by virtual stone towards a complete reconstruction of Lugdunum. In the end, his project could very well become a reference for anyone looking to explore Lyon from a fresh perspective: that of its glorious ancient past.
Source: France Bleu.