DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44946#0079
48
II. A. i. Ammonitis.
will observe that the cavea had three horizontal divisions of seats, with an upper and
a lower praecinctio, besides an outer horizontal passage above the uppermost tiers of
seats. The seats in the middle sections are preserved, from the orchestra to the
uppermost passage, though those of the lowest division are almost completely buried
in soil that has washed down from above. A more minute examination reveals, as
the plan (Pl. IV) shows, that the lower and middle sections comprised each sixteen
tiers of seats, divided by six scalaria into seven cunei, with scalae at the ends of the
outer cunei. The uppermost division of seats is composed of eight cunei, and the
scalae in this division were midway between the ends of the scalae of the lower divi-
sions. The number of tiers of seats in the lowest division is assumed to be equal to
that in the middle division from the oldest descriptions on the one hand, and from the
measurements on the other. The orchestra and the lowest tiers of seats are completely
buried, as is shown by the dotted line in section C. D. of Plate IV ·, but the level of
the orchestra may be determined from the level of the passages within the arches that
open upon the orchestra on either side. The semicircular barrier about the orchestra
is not likely to have been over 1.50 m. high, and a height of 1.30 m. would allow
for just sixteen tiers. The middle division preserves almost all of its tiers of seats
intact, on the west side (Ill. 32) as far as the scalae on the diameter of the semicircle,
and on the east side (Ill. 33) to within two or three meters of that line, as is shown
by dotted lines on the plan and in Pl. IV, section C.D. The topmost division preserves
five cunei intact, the cuneus on the west end, and the corresponding cuneus on the
opposite side, with half of the cuneus adjoining it, having fallen in ruins (Ill. 32 and
33). These portions being built upon artificial substructures were naturally among the
first to fall. The middle horizontal division of seats was reached from the lower
praecinctio by double flights of steps in the middle of the terminal cunei. The uppermost
division was reached from the upper praecinctio by similar flights in the middle of
each of the uppermost cunei, at the ends of the lower scalae (Plan, Pl. IV). The
upper and the lower praecinctio are each 2.30 m. wide; their walls are 1.80 cm. high;
the passage at the top of the cavea is 3.40 m. wide, and probably had a colonnade
corresponding to its outer wall which is 4.50 m. high. In the middle of this outer
wall is an exedra which will be discussed later. Immediately within the wall of the
lower praecinctio, at both ends, is a vaulted passage with two openings upon the
praecinctio. From the present condition of the passages it is not possible to determine
how far the vaults were carried; but, judging from the slope of the hill at this point,
I do not believe that they were carried far beyond the second opening to the praecinctio.
(Section C. D.). The passages within the wall of the upper praecinctio were carried
well around the curve to points shown in the plan by dotted lines drawn across the
uppermost division of seats. It had three openings to the praecinctio, on either side
of the cavea. (Section C. D.). The openings between the vaulted passages and the
praecinctiones were not arched, but were provided with long three-piece lintels or flat
arches, that carried the seats above them. The steps which mounted to the upper
divisions of seats were placed on either side of these openings, and within the circle
of the lowest tier which was not a seat, properly speaking, but a narrow passage above
the praecinctio. The arches that opened upon the orchestra sprang from moulded
caps, and had moulded archivolts, as is shown in the detail drawings in Plate IV. The
same plate shows also the details of the mouldings at the top of the walls of the
II. A. i. Ammonitis.
will observe that the cavea had three horizontal divisions of seats, with an upper and
a lower praecinctio, besides an outer horizontal passage above the uppermost tiers of
seats. The seats in the middle sections are preserved, from the orchestra to the
uppermost passage, though those of the lowest division are almost completely buried
in soil that has washed down from above. A more minute examination reveals, as
the plan (Pl. IV) shows, that the lower and middle sections comprised each sixteen
tiers of seats, divided by six scalaria into seven cunei, with scalae at the ends of the
outer cunei. The uppermost division of seats is composed of eight cunei, and the
scalae in this division were midway between the ends of the scalae of the lower divi-
sions. The number of tiers of seats in the lowest division is assumed to be equal to
that in the middle division from the oldest descriptions on the one hand, and from the
measurements on the other. The orchestra and the lowest tiers of seats are completely
buried, as is shown by the dotted line in section C. D. of Plate IV ·, but the level of
the orchestra may be determined from the level of the passages within the arches that
open upon the orchestra on either side. The semicircular barrier about the orchestra
is not likely to have been over 1.50 m. high, and a height of 1.30 m. would allow
for just sixteen tiers. The middle division preserves almost all of its tiers of seats
intact, on the west side (Ill. 32) as far as the scalae on the diameter of the semicircle,
and on the east side (Ill. 33) to within two or three meters of that line, as is shown
by dotted lines on the plan and in Pl. IV, section C.D. The topmost division preserves
five cunei intact, the cuneus on the west end, and the corresponding cuneus on the
opposite side, with half of the cuneus adjoining it, having fallen in ruins (Ill. 32 and
33). These portions being built upon artificial substructures were naturally among the
first to fall. The middle horizontal division of seats was reached from the lower
praecinctio by double flights of steps in the middle of the terminal cunei. The uppermost
division was reached from the upper praecinctio by similar flights in the middle of
each of the uppermost cunei, at the ends of the lower scalae (Plan, Pl. IV). The
upper and the lower praecinctio are each 2.30 m. wide; their walls are 1.80 cm. high;
the passage at the top of the cavea is 3.40 m. wide, and probably had a colonnade
corresponding to its outer wall which is 4.50 m. high. In the middle of this outer
wall is an exedra which will be discussed later. Immediately within the wall of the
lower praecinctio, at both ends, is a vaulted passage with two openings upon the
praecinctio. From the present condition of the passages it is not possible to determine
how far the vaults were carried; but, judging from the slope of the hill at this point,
I do not believe that they were carried far beyond the second opening to the praecinctio.
(Section C. D.). The passages within the wall of the upper praecinctio were carried
well around the curve to points shown in the plan by dotted lines drawn across the
uppermost division of seats. It had three openings to the praecinctio, on either side
of the cavea. (Section C. D.). The openings between the vaulted passages and the
praecinctiones were not arched, but were provided with long three-piece lintels or flat
arches, that carried the seats above them. The steps which mounted to the upper
divisions of seats were placed on either side of these openings, and within the circle
of the lowest tier which was not a seat, properly speaking, but a narrow passage above
the praecinctio. The arches that opened upon the orchestra sprang from moulded
caps, and had moulded archivolts, as is shown in the detail drawings in Plate IV. The
same plate shows also the details of the mouldings at the top of the walls of the