DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44946#0088
cAmman {Philadelphia).
53
below the praecinctio have ever been reported. Captain Conder describes three
vomitoria from the cavea, one in the middle of the curve and one on either side.
Only the barest remains of these are now visible. It is evident that these led from
the praecinctio down to the level of the ground outside. The side of one such opening
in the wall of the praecinctio is still to be seen on the south side at a distance of
5.75 m. from the tower wall. If the height of the praecinctio above the ground level
be as I have indicated it, the steps of the vomitoria will descend from the praecinctio
to the ground level at the outer curve of the cavea wall, at the same angle as the
steps of the scalae within. These exits, of course, had vaults; these are likened, by
Captain Conder, to segments of a hollow cone.
Supers true hire. Satisfactory measurements of heights are out of the question in
a ruin so filled with debris, unless the debris is removed; I have attempted to give
a cross section, reconstructed in, what seems to me, the most logical method with the
data in hand, and from what we know of the other buildings of a similar character.
The ground level is, of course, unobtainable in a ruin of this character; but one may
begin with the praecinctio, of which a small section is preserved, and place above it
seven rows of seats with a narrow passage above them; parts of a scala are to be
seen near the south end; the seats and the praecinctio terminate against the long wall
of the tower. Of this much we may be reasonably certain; but the reconstruction of
the cavea below the praecinctio depends entirely upon the existence of paradoi passing
under the praecinctio and the upper section of seats at their extreme ends (Ill. 34).
If there were paradoi at this point, a complete half circle of seats must be provided
for within, i. e., east of, the paradoi, and the number of seats must be great enough
to furnish height for the entrances on either side. I have assumed that the vault 4 m.
wide is the vault of the parados, and that the voussoirs belonged to the arch of the
entrance, and have therefore given a height to the lower section of the cavea, that
will allow for ten rows of seats and a barrier about the orchestra 70 cm. in height.
This arrangement provides for an orchestra 10.75 m. in diameter, and the semicircle
of the orchestra, if continued to a circle would be tangent to the front line of a stage
2 m. deep. The standing portion of the south tower still towers above the rest of the
ruin (Ill. 35), but in 1881, according to Captain Conder’s photograph, it was much higher,
and was estimated by him to be 50 feet, about 17 m. high. This would give a scaena
wall of at least that height. From indications in my photograph, as well as that
published by Captain Conder, it is evident that there were large arched windows in
the first story of the scaena wall above the vaulted passage at the rear of the stage:
the jamb of the window and one voussoir are to be seen at the north side of the
tower where a short section of the scaena wall is still in situ. It is very doubtful if
the front wall of the odeum was carried up for an upper story; there is hardly enough
debris to warrant it; yet this might have been carried away for building material; but
the fact that the west wall of the tower, and the face of the section of the scaena wall
still clinging to the tower, are both faced with draughted masonry, seems to show that
they were exterior walls, although the rustication is carried to the base of the tower
behind the vaulted passage of the postscenium. The outer wall is of finely dressed
smooth ashlar, the portals were provided with arches of discharge above flat, three-
piece lintels, the frame mouldings are of good but simple profile. On either side of
the middle portal was a semicircular niche, and in the next spaces were rectangular
53
below the praecinctio have ever been reported. Captain Conder describes three
vomitoria from the cavea, one in the middle of the curve and one on either side.
Only the barest remains of these are now visible. It is evident that these led from
the praecinctio down to the level of the ground outside. The side of one such opening
in the wall of the praecinctio is still to be seen on the south side at a distance of
5.75 m. from the tower wall. If the height of the praecinctio above the ground level
be as I have indicated it, the steps of the vomitoria will descend from the praecinctio
to the ground level at the outer curve of the cavea wall, at the same angle as the
steps of the scalae within. These exits, of course, had vaults; these are likened, by
Captain Conder, to segments of a hollow cone.
Supers true hire. Satisfactory measurements of heights are out of the question in
a ruin so filled with debris, unless the debris is removed; I have attempted to give
a cross section, reconstructed in, what seems to me, the most logical method with the
data in hand, and from what we know of the other buildings of a similar character.
The ground level is, of course, unobtainable in a ruin of this character; but one may
begin with the praecinctio, of which a small section is preserved, and place above it
seven rows of seats with a narrow passage above them; parts of a scala are to be
seen near the south end; the seats and the praecinctio terminate against the long wall
of the tower. Of this much we may be reasonably certain; but the reconstruction of
the cavea below the praecinctio depends entirely upon the existence of paradoi passing
under the praecinctio and the upper section of seats at their extreme ends (Ill. 34).
If there were paradoi at this point, a complete half circle of seats must be provided
for within, i. e., east of, the paradoi, and the number of seats must be great enough
to furnish height for the entrances on either side. I have assumed that the vault 4 m.
wide is the vault of the parados, and that the voussoirs belonged to the arch of the
entrance, and have therefore given a height to the lower section of the cavea, that
will allow for ten rows of seats and a barrier about the orchestra 70 cm. in height.
This arrangement provides for an orchestra 10.75 m. in diameter, and the semicircle
of the orchestra, if continued to a circle would be tangent to the front line of a stage
2 m. deep. The standing portion of the south tower still towers above the rest of the
ruin (Ill. 35), but in 1881, according to Captain Conder’s photograph, it was much higher,
and was estimated by him to be 50 feet, about 17 m. high. This would give a scaena
wall of at least that height. From indications in my photograph, as well as that
published by Captain Conder, it is evident that there were large arched windows in
the first story of the scaena wall above the vaulted passage at the rear of the stage:
the jamb of the window and one voussoir are to be seen at the north side of the
tower where a short section of the scaena wall is still in situ. It is very doubtful if
the front wall of the odeum was carried up for an upper story; there is hardly enough
debris to warrant it; yet this might have been carried away for building material; but
the fact that the west wall of the tower, and the face of the section of the scaena wall
still clinging to the tower, are both faced with draughted masonry, seems to show that
they were exterior walls, although the rustication is carried to the base of the tower
behind the vaulted passage of the postscenium. The outer wall is of finely dressed
smooth ashlar, the portals were provided with arches of discharge above flat, three-
piece lintels, the frame mouldings are of good but simple profile. On either side of
the middle portal was a semicircular niche, and in the next spaces were rectangular