Gell, William: Pompeiana: the topography, edifices and ornaments of Pompeii ; the result of excavations since 1819 ; in two volumes (Band 1) (London, 1832)

POMPEIANA. 105

tian was 200 feet long, by half that width,
the Aqua Martia supplying copious streams
of water, which spouted forth in grottos ar-
tificially contrived.

With the magnificence of the capital the
piscina of Pompeii cannot pretend to vie;
but nothing can be more elegant, or more
aptly calculated for the purpose of bathing
than the chamber in question, of which a
view is given in Plate XXVIII.

It is to be supposed that many preferred
this species of bath to undergoing the per-
spiration of the thermal chamber; and, as
the frigidarium alone could have produced
no effect, so it must be understood that the
natatio was intended, when it is asserted
that, at one period, the cold bath was in the
greatest request. " Adeoque praevaluit sem-
per frigidarum usus ut vix quidam aliis bal-
neis uterentur."

It would seem possible that the vase, or
natatorium, either hot or cold, might some-
times have had the name of solium, for
the word implies it. A solium is defined
to be, among its other senses, " alveus in
vol. i. s