What is fact is that the ancient Roman coast road was constructed in 184 BC and according to Tito Livio 'stretched from the waters of Nettuno to the mountains of Formia'.

It also passed over the Grotto of Tiberius part of the fabulous Villa di Tiberio.

Also fact is the famous episode when falling rocks from the coastal cliffs fell on diners during a grand feast in the villa. Tiberius was saved but many were killed.

A bit embarassing when you consider the efforts he had made to put on a show. Tiberius had turned the grotto or cavern into a huge fish pond in honour of Ulysses.

The pond was fed by a natural springs and salt water from a coastal lake. A device was also built to lift water from the lake and fill various compartments where the fish were able to breed. All very showy.

Smashed sculptures from the tragic evening were found in 1957 and are now on show at the National Archaeological Musuem in Sperlonga.

The sculptures depict mythical Greek scenes, such as the blinding of the cyclops Polyphemus and Scylla's attack on Ulysses' ship.

The works are signed by Agesandro, Polidoro and Atandoro who Pliny tells were responsible for the famous Laocoon in the present day Vatican.

Some say the works were commissioned by Tiberius, but more likely they date from the first century BC and were brought here by Domitian who made a replica of the grotto on the shores of Lake Albano.

Image of the statue of Odysseus taken from the very excellent BBC World's Art strand 'Imagination' and specifically the series How Art Made the World.