existing, but deprived of all power and influence. AMPHĬDRŎMĬA (ἀμφιδρόμια or δρομιάμφιον ἧμαρ), a family festival of the Athenians, at which the newly-born child was introduced into the family, and received its name. The friends and relations of the parents were invited to the festival of the amphidromia, which was held in the evening, and they generally appeared with presents. The house was decorated on the outside with olive branches when the child was a boy, or with garlands of wool when the child was a girl; and a repast was prepared for the guests. The child was carried round the fire by the nurse, and thus, as it were, presented to the gods of the house and to the family, and at the same time received its name, to which the guests were witnesses. The carrying of the child round the hearth was the principal part of the solemnity, from which its name was derived. [Illustration: Longitudinal Section of the Flavian Amphitheatre.] [Illustration: Elevation of one side of the preceding Section. EXPLANATION. A, The arena. _p_, The wall or podium inclosing it. P, The podium itself, on which were chairs, or seats, for the senators, &c. M′, The first maenianum, or slope of benches, for the equestrian order. M″, The second maenianum. M‴, The third maenianum, elevated considerably above the preceding one, and appropriated to the pullati. W, The colonnade, or gallery, which contained seats for women. E, The narrow gallery round the summit of the interior, for the attendants who worked the velarium. _pr_, _pr_, The præcinctiones, or landings, at the top of the first and second maenianum; in the pavement of which were grated apertures, at intervals, to admit light into the vomitoria beneath them. V V V V, Vomitoria. G G G, The three external galleries through the circumference of the building, open to the arcades of the exterior. _g g_, Inner gallery. The situation and arrangement of the staircases, &c., are not expressed, as they could not be rendered intelligible without plans at various levels of the building.]