DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.16632#0097
Ancient Greece
69
fourth century. It is, moreover, not improbable that here in the oldest times there was, as
in Elis, a place like a Xystos under the open sky before a covered court was built.
At the same period the lower terrace was widened on the western side, and a fine
circular swimming-bath was added, the first one made in the open air. Steps led down
into the bath, and from the walls behind water streamed into stone basins (Fig. 54). Round
this part there were no doubt garden plots on the smooth grass of the terrace. On the
upper terrace a little canal cut through above the bathing-place, and this canal served as
a reservoir for the bath. Here we must also conjecture thickets, and other garden land.
The above-mentioned Delphic account, however, describes, among the kinds of work
done, the digging up and smoothing of the Xystos with its adjoining land, and the care of
the peristyle and the place where ball-games were played. The Xystos was covered with
white earth, and the ball-place with black.
Unfortunately the excavations of other classical gymnasiums do not help us, since
only the buildings of the peristyle have received much attention, and this, according to
Vitruvius, is but one part of the gymnasium. The wonderful peristyle at Epidaurus, with
its grand propylon and huge colonnade, was built in the fourth century; but since the
racecourse has not been dug up, we can do no more than guess at the existence of gardens
in the great middle court. The diggings at Olympia are unsatisfactory in the same way.
Perhaps further excavations will show that the colonnade of the so-called Great Gymnasium
which adjoins the peristyle on the north is really a Xystos. But the lower gymnasium at
Priene, far better excavated, has not only garden grounds in the peristyle but all round
about in parts not yet dug over there are park sites and sanctuaries.
There is one and only one gymnasium (of the later period) whose whole imposing
extent is open to our view, namely, that at Pergamon (Fig. 55). The ground rises in
three great terraces, with a difference in height of twelve to fourteen metres. Walls of
colossal size, and under them niches that had probably been filled with votive statues,
above them huge porticoes—these enclosed the whole estate. All the three terraces have
buildings on them, which are really parts of the gymnasium, and the middle one seems
specially suitable for fine garden grounds; here we have a temple among several other
edifices, probably dedicated to one of the gods of sport, perhaps to Heracles. But only the
69
fourth century. It is, moreover, not improbable that here in the oldest times there was, as
in Elis, a place like a Xystos under the open sky before a covered court was built.
At the same period the lower terrace was widened on the western side, and a fine
circular swimming-bath was added, the first one made in the open air. Steps led down
into the bath, and from the walls behind water streamed into stone basins (Fig. 54). Round
this part there were no doubt garden plots on the smooth grass of the terrace. On the
upper terrace a little canal cut through above the bathing-place, and this canal served as
a reservoir for the bath. Here we must also conjecture thickets, and other garden land.
The above-mentioned Delphic account, however, describes, among the kinds of work
done, the digging up and smoothing of the Xystos with its adjoining land, and the care of
the peristyle and the place where ball-games were played. The Xystos was covered with
white earth, and the ball-place with black.
Unfortunately the excavations of other classical gymnasiums do not help us, since
only the buildings of the peristyle have received much attention, and this, according to
Vitruvius, is but one part of the gymnasium. The wonderful peristyle at Epidaurus, with
its grand propylon and huge colonnade, was built in the fourth century; but since the
racecourse has not been dug up, we can do no more than guess at the existence of gardens
in the great middle court. The diggings at Olympia are unsatisfactory in the same way.
Perhaps further excavations will show that the colonnade of the so-called Great Gymnasium
which adjoins the peristyle on the north is really a Xystos. But the lower gymnasium at
Priene, far better excavated, has not only garden grounds in the peristyle but all round
about in parts not yet dug over there are park sites and sanctuaries.
There is one and only one gymnasium (of the later period) whose whole imposing
extent is open to our view, namely, that at Pergamon (Fig. 55). The ground rises in
three great terraces, with a difference in height of twelve to fourteen metres. Walls of
colossal size, and under them niches that had probably been filled with votive statues,
above them huge porticoes—these enclosed the whole estate. All the three terraces have
buildings on them, which are really parts of the gymnasium, and the middle one seems
specially suitable for fine garden grounds; here we have a temple among several other
edifices, probably dedicated to one of the gods of sport, perhaps to Heracles. But only the