DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.18096#0306
essentially Roman, and are unknown in any country unsubdued
by Roman arms. They may be divided into three classes.
Those at Capua, El-Djem, Verona, Aries, Nimes, and Pola, all
modelled after the Colosseum at Rome, may represent the first
class ; those of which we have examples at Psestum, Pompeii,
Italica, Caerleon, as well as at Bou-Chater, Oudena, and
numerous other towns in North Africa, partly excavated and
partly embellished with masonry, may be assigned to the second
class ; and others still traceable, of which the one at Dorchester
may be recognised as a typical example, being excavations of
elliptical form with cut benches of turf, belong to the third class.
These are rightly called Castrensian amphitheatres, and pro-
bably no Roman castrum in any province, however remote, was
unprovided with one of these rough constructions. Montfaucon
says that every Roman city had its amphitheatre, and certainly
in North Africa there is scarcely a town where the lines of one
cannot be traced.
Gordian III., the last survivor of a short-lived dynasty, shares
with Alexander Severus the sympathetic regard of all law-
abiding citizens of every age. Like so many of his predecessors,
he paid the penalty for honourable conduct. The Praetorians, at
the instigation of their prefect, demanded his removal. The
youthful Emperor, just entering his twentieth year, was murdered,
and Philip the Arab reigned in his stead. The name of Gordian
must have continued a pleasant memory in after generations,
for we are told by Capitolinus that, by a decree of the Senate,
their descendants were to be free for ever, as citizens of Rome,
from all the heavy taxes and burdens of the State. It is to be
regretted that no Latin inscriptions have been brought to light
in North Africa bearing the names of Gordian I. and his son.
At Djemila (the ancient Cuiculum) a fragmentary slab has been
found somewhat difficult to decipher, but the characters are
Greek,1 and the few words that are legible do not convey
information of any value.
1 C.I.L. No. 10895.
by Roman arms. They may be divided into three classes.
Those at Capua, El-Djem, Verona, Aries, Nimes, and Pola, all
modelled after the Colosseum at Rome, may represent the first
class ; those of which we have examples at Psestum, Pompeii,
Italica, Caerleon, as well as at Bou-Chater, Oudena, and
numerous other towns in North Africa, partly excavated and
partly embellished with masonry, may be assigned to the second
class ; and others still traceable, of which the one at Dorchester
may be recognised as a typical example, being excavations of
elliptical form with cut benches of turf, belong to the third class.
These are rightly called Castrensian amphitheatres, and pro-
bably no Roman castrum in any province, however remote, was
unprovided with one of these rough constructions. Montfaucon
says that every Roman city had its amphitheatre, and certainly
in North Africa there is scarcely a town where the lines of one
cannot be traced.
Gordian III., the last survivor of a short-lived dynasty, shares
with Alexander Severus the sympathetic regard of all law-
abiding citizens of every age. Like so many of his predecessors,
he paid the penalty for honourable conduct. The Praetorians, at
the instigation of their prefect, demanded his removal. The
youthful Emperor, just entering his twentieth year, was murdered,
and Philip the Arab reigned in his stead. The name of Gordian
must have continued a pleasant memory in after generations,
for we are told by Capitolinus that, by a decree of the Senate,
their descendants were to be free for ever, as citizens of Rome,
from all the heavy taxes and burdens of the State. It is to be
regretted that no Latin inscriptions have been brought to light
in North Africa bearing the names of Gordian I. and his son.
At Djemila (the ancient Cuiculum) a fragmentary slab has been
found somewhat difficult to decipher, but the characters are
Greek,1 and the few words that are legible do not convey
information of any value.
1 C.I.L. No. 10895.