Itinerarium curiosum (centuria I) : $b or, an account of the antiquities, and remarkable curiosities in nature or art, observed in travels through Great BritainStukeley, William
History
Itinerarium curiosum (centuria I) : $b or, an account of the antiquities, and remarkable curiosities in nature or art, observed in travels through Great Britain
Stukeley, William
Great Britain -- Antiquities -- Early works to 1800; Great Britain -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
I imagine the terrace at top in our work was designed for the men
of arms: for they are by no means to be excluded, seeing one of the
primary intents of these diversions was to inure them, as well as the
people, to blood and murder. Hence, before they went upon any great
expedition, or foreign war, these feasts and butcheries were publicly
celebrated: and in my opinion, the two rising plots, that are squarish
on each side upon the shortest diameter, were for the officers. These
are above the level of the walk, or terrace, and might possibly have a
tent set upon them for that purpose. I call them pavilions: they are
of a handsome turn, and capable each of holding two dozen of people
commodiously: their side-breadth is fifteen foot; their length, i. e.
north and south, twenty: they are somewhat nearer the upper end, not
standing precisely upon the shortest diameter, and four foot above the
level of the terrace. I considered with care that seeming irregularity
of the terrace on both sides the lower end; for it is higher within
side than without, yet so as to produce no ill effect below, either
within or without, but the contrary. I find it is a master-piece of
skill, and am surprised that it has not been more defaced in so long
time. The matter is this: the work standing on a declining plain, this
artifice was necessary to render its appearance regular; for when you
stand in the centre within-side, the whole circuit of the terrace
seems and is really of one level: but on the out-side the verge of
the north-easterly part is sloped off gradually toward the entrance
where the declivity is, conformably with it; whence the whole exterior
contour appears of an equal height too: and this could not otherwise
have been obtained, since within it was necessary to keep a true level,
without regard to the outer plain. As to the seats, which I have
supposed in plate 50, they were contrived to be twice as broad as
high: their height was but a small matter more than a foot, and their
breadth not above two feet and a half; half that space being allotted
for the seat of the lowermost, and the other half for the feet of the
uppermost. The declivity of these _gradus_ is justly made within an
angle of thirty degrees, the third part of a quadrant: but this is more
exact at the ends; for in the middle, or towards the shortest diameter
over the elevated part of the circular walk, the upper _series_ of
seats has a somewhat more obtuse angle; the reason of which is obvious,
to overlook the breadth of the circular walk. This is most plainly
seen in the sections, and is done with judgement, because by that
means the upper edge of the amphitheatre is in a right line with the
declivity. As to the disposition of these seats, their method is as
new as curious: it is so contrived, that the circular walks cut the
whole breadth in two equal parts upon the shortest diameter; therefore
an equal number of seats is above and under it: hence the middle seat
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account