Roman Antiquities, and Ancient Mythology / For Classical Schools (2nd ed)

public

he Greek θεαομαι, to see,

s to make the same figure as if two theatres should be joined together. Yet the same place is often called by these names in several authors. They seem, too, to have been designed

theatre, being made either to turn round or draw

he scene, where the pulpitum stood, into which t

lower than the other parts, whence perhaps, the name of pit in our play houses was borrowed

l

Amphitheatre, commonl

senators, knights, and commons. The first range was called orchestra, from ορχει?θαι, because in that

nty in breadth, and one hundred sixty in height. It was surrounded to the top by a portico resting on eighty arches, and divided into four stories. The arrangement of the seats was similar to that in the t

stage, which was strongly encircled by a canal, to guard the spectators against their attacks. These precauti

ials of Nero's golden palace: its form was oval, and it is supposed to have contained

into three partitions, one above another, the first consisting of one hundred and twenty pillars of marble; the next, of the like number of pillars, curiously wrought in glass. The t

a fixed theatre, which he built nobly of square stone. Some

bow, having a wall quite round, with ranges of seats for the convenience of spectators. At the entrance of the circus stood the carcer

with a trench of ten feet deep, and as many broad, to receive the water, and seats enough for one hundred fifty thousand men. It was extremely beautiful and ad

ents are no where particularly described; but we may

and horses. A beautiful one was built by Domitian. The xysti were

atural ornaments, the continual sports and exercises performed there, made it one of the most interesting sights near the city. Here the young noblemen practised all kinds of feats of activity, and learned the use of arms. Here were the races either with chariots or single horses. Be

remonies belonging to the worship of the gods. In the other, the senate used to assemble, to consult about the public concerns of the commonwea

as they were broad. All the compass of the forum was surrounded b

others were erected for the necessities and conveniences of the inhabitants, and were no doubt equivalent to our markets. The most remarkable were the Roman

oils taken in the Gallic war; the area alone, cost o

gs, beginning with ?neas: in the other all the Roman kings, beginning with Romulus, and most of the eminent persons in the commonwealth, and Augustus

the foreign spoils he had taken in the wars; the coveri

ef, suarium, for swine, pistorium, for bread, cupedinarium, for

; here stood the rostra, a kind of pulpit, adorned with the beaks of ships taken in a sea fight, from the