DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5179#0118
94 ANCIENT EPHBStJS.
and in one instance, the gymnasium of the theatre,
several of the columns of the side porticos are still
remaining. These, therefore, would form the Greek
xysti of Vitruvius, or peristylia, inside of whicll
would run the paradromos, or Roman xystus, of
Vitruvius. Pausanias, however, tells us that the
whole enclosure was called xystus, and from the
derivation he gives of it, it would evidently apply
more appropriately to an open space than to a
covered one, though it subsequently became applied
to all places of exercise. Philostratus says it might
be planted with trees.1 Vitruvius lastly notices
the stadium, evidently meaning a long area in the
form of a stadium, not an actual stadium. This
feature we see satisfactorily shown at the back of
the Great Gymnasium, which from one portico
to the other measures only one-seventh part less
than a stadium. The two porticos of this gym-
nasium might very appropriately be called xysti
in the sense of Vitruvius.
great We will now proceed to the consideration of this
gymnasium, which, opening on to the forum and
city port, would appear to have been regarded as
the principal building of the kind; and which it
evidently is, considering its magnitude, it being
about twice the size of the enclosure of the
British Museum, and measuring 925 by 685
feet, or fifteen acres. The piers of the central
1 Vita Apol. Tyan. viii. 26.
GYMNASIUM.
and in one instance, the gymnasium of the theatre,
several of the columns of the side porticos are still
remaining. These, therefore, would form the Greek
xysti of Vitruvius, or peristylia, inside of whicll
would run the paradromos, or Roman xystus, of
Vitruvius. Pausanias, however, tells us that the
whole enclosure was called xystus, and from the
derivation he gives of it, it would evidently apply
more appropriately to an open space than to a
covered one, though it subsequently became applied
to all places of exercise. Philostratus says it might
be planted with trees.1 Vitruvius lastly notices
the stadium, evidently meaning a long area in the
form of a stadium, not an actual stadium. This
feature we see satisfactorily shown at the back of
the Great Gymnasium, which from one portico
to the other measures only one-seventh part less
than a stadium. The two porticos of this gym-
nasium might very appropriately be called xysti
in the sense of Vitruvius.
great We will now proceed to the consideration of this
gymnasium, which, opening on to the forum and
city port, would appear to have been regarded as
the principal building of the kind; and which it
evidently is, considering its magnitude, it being
about twice the size of the enclosure of the
British Museum, and measuring 925 by 685
feet, or fifteen acres. The piers of the central
1 Vita Apol. Tyan. viii. 26.
GYMNASIUM.