DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42778#0163
TEMPLES, BASILICAS, AND THEATRES.
97
In the amphitheatre at Pola there are, on the diagonal axes, four
projecting bays, 43 feet wide and 10 feet projection, forming on the
ground storey open arcades, and containing staircases in the two
upper storeys.
In the amphitheatre at Nunes there were only two storeys and an
attic which supported the masts for thevel arium. The lower
storey had three-quarter detached piers, and above three-quarter
detached columns of the Doric order. The floor of the first storey
arcade was level with the cornice, and the mouldings of the entab-
lature on both storeys break round the pilasters and columns.
The arch of the arcade of the upper storey is carried as a barrel
vault across the corridor, which has a fine external effect, but
destroys the continuity of the corridor.
The amphitheatre of El Djem (Thysdrus), south of Carthage in
North Africa, ranks next in size to the example at Verona, and was
evidently built in imitation of the Colosseum, though it differs from
it in the orders employed for the three arcaded storeys, the first and
the third storey being decorated with Corinthian columns, and the
second storey with those of the Composite order. The intercolum-
niation, nine and a half diameters, is so wide that it scarcely carried
out the principles of the Roman order as already described, and the
columns being semi-detached only, have not the vigour and boldness
of the Colosseum design. On the other hand, the masonry is of
great excellence. The stones were obtained from a quarry 20 miles
distant, and all the courses are of the same height, viz., 20 inches.
The building was erected by the Emperor Gordianus III, but was
never completed. There were sixty-four arches, and three storeys
rose to a height of 85 feet. The fourth or attic storey required
to carry the velarium was commenced on the inner wall of the
external gallery, but never terminated.
The Stadium.
In imitation probably of the Greek stadium, Domitian built an
example in the Campus Martius, of which one of the piers was
discovered in the Piazza Navona, which now occupies its site and
preserves almost exactly its shape and size, and perpetrates its
plan. Its seating capacity is estimated at about 15,000. The
so-called Stadium of Domitian on the Palatine was in reality a
garden.
N
97
In the amphitheatre at Pola there are, on the diagonal axes, four
projecting bays, 43 feet wide and 10 feet projection, forming on the
ground storey open arcades, and containing staircases in the two
upper storeys.
In the amphitheatre at Nunes there were only two storeys and an
attic which supported the masts for thevel arium. The lower
storey had three-quarter detached piers, and above three-quarter
detached columns of the Doric order. The floor of the first storey
arcade was level with the cornice, and the mouldings of the entab-
lature on both storeys break round the pilasters and columns.
The arch of the arcade of the upper storey is carried as a barrel
vault across the corridor, which has a fine external effect, but
destroys the continuity of the corridor.
The amphitheatre of El Djem (Thysdrus), south of Carthage in
North Africa, ranks next in size to the example at Verona, and was
evidently built in imitation of the Colosseum, though it differs from
it in the orders employed for the three arcaded storeys, the first and
the third storey being decorated with Corinthian columns, and the
second storey with those of the Composite order. The intercolum-
niation, nine and a half diameters, is so wide that it scarcely carried
out the principles of the Roman order as already described, and the
columns being semi-detached only, have not the vigour and boldness
of the Colosseum design. On the other hand, the masonry is of
great excellence. The stones were obtained from a quarry 20 miles
distant, and all the courses are of the same height, viz., 20 inches.
The building was erected by the Emperor Gordianus III, but was
never completed. There were sixty-four arches, and three storeys
rose to a height of 85 feet. The fourth or attic storey required
to carry the velarium was commenced on the inner wall of the
external gallery, but never terminated.
The Stadium.
In imitation probably of the Greek stadium, Domitian built an
example in the Campus Martius, of which one of the piers was
discovered in the Piazza Navona, which now occupies its site and
preserves almost exactly its shape and size, and perpetrates its
plan. Its seating capacity is estimated at about 15,000. The
so-called Stadium of Domitian on the Palatine was in reality a
garden.
N