DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5179#0136
OF THE DIFFERENT BUILDINGS OF THE CITY. 107
Pococke says that the side of the hill next the
Stadium appears to have been furnished with
seats for additional spectators to view the games
of the circus. Between these two buildings is
a road paved with large stones measuring four
feet by eight.1 The southernmost tazza of the
fountains is the only one now existing; it is 12' 8"
in diameter, and is still protected by a portion of
the circular building round it. The arrangement
of the portico on the north side clearly shows
there must have been a second tazza, but it was
probably moved Avhile it was yet entire. I have
already referred to the absurd belief that the
remaining tazza was once used by St. John for
baptizing his converts. It is possible that these
ornamental fountains might have been built over
a spring of water, which has since disappeared ;
but this is merely conjectural. The names of the
fountains given us by ancient authors, are,—
Hypela3us, Halitcea, and Calipia. With Hypelasus
1 The colonnades of the Forum, those of the road from the Forum
to the Stadium, and between the Stadium and the Gymnasium of
the Stadium, (Chandler also, i. 151) are all mentioned by Pococke,
(p. 51.) As the general plan is too small to show what columns
are standing, and what are not, I must observe that of the portico
connecting the Forum and the two fountains, there are standing,
on the north side, the 14th, 15th, 16th and last two columns
immediately before the fountain ; and on the south side the only
column remaining is that immediately before that fountain ; and
of the diagonal colonnade towards the Serapion, the 11th, 13th,
14th, 24th, 25th, and 27th columns are still remaining.
Pococke says that the side of the hill next the
Stadium appears to have been furnished with
seats for additional spectators to view the games
of the circus. Between these two buildings is
a road paved with large stones measuring four
feet by eight.1 The southernmost tazza of the
fountains is the only one now existing; it is 12' 8"
in diameter, and is still protected by a portion of
the circular building round it. The arrangement
of the portico on the north side clearly shows
there must have been a second tazza, but it was
probably moved Avhile it was yet entire. I have
already referred to the absurd belief that the
remaining tazza was once used by St. John for
baptizing his converts. It is possible that these
ornamental fountains might have been built over
a spring of water, which has since disappeared ;
but this is merely conjectural. The names of the
fountains given us by ancient authors, are,—
Hypela3us, Halitcea, and Calipia. With Hypelasus
1 The colonnades of the Forum, those of the road from the Forum
to the Stadium, and between the Stadium and the Gymnasium of
the Stadium, (Chandler also, i. 151) are all mentioned by Pococke,
(p. 51.) As the general plan is too small to show what columns
are standing, and what are not, I must observe that of the portico
connecting the Forum and the two fountains, there are standing,
on the north side, the 14th, 15th, 16th and last two columns
immediately before the fountain ; and on the south side the only
column remaining is that immediately before that fountain ; and
of the diagonal colonnade towards the Serapion, the 11th, 13th,
14th, 24th, 25th, and 27th columns are still remaining.