DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44946#0105
Note: This is an additional scan to display the colour reference chart and scalebar.
0.5
1 cm
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.
Superstructure. 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
entra —
will
This
of th
o
Φ
0
00
σίνρη a height to the lower section of the cavea, that
nd a barrier about the orchestra 70 cm. in height,
orchestra 10.75 m. in diameter, and the semicircle
ircle would be tangent to the front line of a stage
>f the south tower still towers above the rest of the
to Captain Conder’s photograph, it was much higher,
feet, about 17 m. high. This would give a scaena
n indications in my photograph, as well as that
s evident that there were large arched windows in
Dove the vaulted passage at the rear of the stage :
voussoir are to be seen at the north side of the
e scaena wall is still in situ. It is very doubtful if
rried up for an upper story; there is hardly enough
have been carried away for building material; but
ower, and the face of the section of the scaena wall
faced with draughted masonry, seems to show that
the rustication is carried to the base of the tower
5 postscenium. The outer wall is of finely dressed
>rovided with arches of discharge above flat, three-
are of good but simple profile. On either side of
lar niche, and in the next spaces were rectangular
111c
the
towe —
the
debr
the
still
they=-^
behi Ξ-
smo =—
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.
Superstructure. 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
entra —
will
This
of th
o
Φ
0
00
σίνρη a height to the lower section of the cavea, that
nd a barrier about the orchestra 70 cm. in height,
orchestra 10.75 m. in diameter, and the semicircle
ircle would be tangent to the front line of a stage
>f the south tower still towers above the rest of the
to Captain Conder’s photograph, it was much higher,
feet, about 17 m. high. This would give a scaena
n indications in my photograph, as well as that
s evident that there were large arched windows in
Dove the vaulted passage at the rear of the stage :
voussoir are to be seen at the north side of the
e scaena wall is still in situ. It is very doubtful if
rried up for an upper story; there is hardly enough
have been carried away for building material; but
ower, and the face of the section of the scaena wall
faced with draughted masonry, seems to show that
the rustication is carried to the base of the tower
5 postscenium. The outer wall is of finely dressed
>rovided with arches of discharge above flat, three-
are of good but simple profile. On either side of
lar niche, and in the next spaces were rectangular
111c
the
towe —
the
debr
the
still
they=-^
behi Ξ-
smo =—