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

pompf.iajs'a.- 121

These must have been glazed, or closed
with linen windows, called vela, for it was
probably previous to that common use of
glass which evidently prevailed at Pompeii,
that the brazen shields, or circular shutters,
mentioned by Vitruvius as hanging by chains,
for the purpose of opening and shutting the
windows of the laconicum or sudatory, were
necessary. It appears, from that author, that
these shields were lowered to open, or raised
to close, the circular openings in the roof
of the laconicum. Over the labrum is seen
one of these circular windows.

An author named Robortellius, in the
collection of Grsevius and Gronovius, says
that the openings in the roof of the baths of
Pisa are yet visible, and are, some of them,
six feet in diameter. In the Moorish baths
at Granada, in the palace of the Alhambra,
a number of small orifices exist; and, in
Turkish baths, these holes are generally nu-
merous and covered with convex glasses.

It is evident that, when the vaults were
entire, none of these apartments could have
been supplied with a cheerful light; and

vol. i. u