DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.974#0049
shelving, and a ditch, into which the drivers retired when they could
uot pass the post. Finally, with a little attention, I thought that I
distinguished the spina, ;i kind of pavement, as far as I could judge, of
fifteen toises in length, which, according to Pausanias, was adorned with
votive altars and ornaments ranged the whole length of the Hippodrome,
which it divided into two parts." After a few general observations lie
again proceeds : " The wall which is built in Mount: Saturn, and extending
the whole length of the terrace, is of this style (of brick), and as it is covered
by a row of trees, you must pass behind their roots to examine it: you
find five boxes 14. feet in depth by 11 in width, measured from the level of
the soil to the key of the vault, and a sixth of less depth than the others;
these vaulted cells are what have been called the carceres, and if they are
intended for stalls for the ears, we must acknowledge that their size in no
way answered to that of the quadriges, or chariots with four horses, which
were driven by the candidates, &c. &c. &e. In a word, the vaults which
are called the stalls for the cars being in the form of niches, may he
considered as the seats of the Agonotliets, or judges of the games, who
were thus to the left of the barrier, and as it were incrnsted in a wall
seventy feet in extent: such is my private opinion, which the learned may
rectify, my object being to explain what there actually is, rather than to
write an academical dissertation in which I might lose myself. The same
will be the case with my conjectures respecting the Aphcsis, or barrier,
which Gedoyn places in the Dromos to the right of the Hippodrome, and
to which he gives improperly, as appears to me. an opening of 400 feet.
If, in fact, we call to mind that the width of the Hippodrome was one
uot pass the post. Finally, with a little attention, I thought that I
distinguished the spina, ;i kind of pavement, as far as I could judge, of
fifteen toises in length, which, according to Pausanias, was adorned with
votive altars and ornaments ranged the whole length of the Hippodrome,
which it divided into two parts." After a few general observations lie
again proceeds : " The wall which is built in Mount: Saturn, and extending
the whole length of the terrace, is of this style (of brick), and as it is covered
by a row of trees, you must pass behind their roots to examine it: you
find five boxes 14. feet in depth by 11 in width, measured from the level of
the soil to the key of the vault, and a sixth of less depth than the others;
these vaulted cells are what have been called the carceres, and if they are
intended for stalls for the ears, we must acknowledge that their size in no
way answered to that of the quadriges, or chariots with four horses, which
were driven by the candidates, &c. &c. &e. In a word, the vaults which
are called the stalls for the cars being in the form of niches, may he
considered as the seats of the Agonotliets, or judges of the games, who
were thus to the left of the barrier, and as it were incrnsted in a wall
seventy feet in extent: such is my private opinion, which the learned may
rectify, my object being to explain what there actually is, rather than to
write an academical dissertation in which I might lose myself. The same
will be the case with my conjectures respecting the Aphcsis, or barrier,
which Gedoyn places in the Dromos to the right of the Hippodrome, and
to which he gives improperly, as appears to me. an opening of 400 feet.
If, in fact, we call to mind that the width of the Hippodrome was one