Old Rome: A Handbook to the Ruins of the City and the CampagnaBurn, Robert
History
Old Rome: A Handbook to the Ruins of the City and the Campagna
Burn, Robert
Rome (Italy) -- Antiquities; Rome (Italy) -- Description and travel
On each side of the above-mentioned three chambers is a similar range of
halls. The south-eastern wing (g), being the most perfect, serves as the
better guide to the arrangement of this part of the building. We pass
through two chambers (h) (i) containing fine mosaic pavement, and then
reach a large long hall (g), which apparently consisted of three aisles
and two semicircular tribunes, divided from each other by rows of columns,
somewhat in the manner of a basilica. A considerable portion of the
mosaics on the floor of this hall have been laid bare and may be seen
amongst the ruins of the roof and upper part. In the larger tribune was
discovered the great mosaic pavement of the Athletes, now preserved in the
Lateran Museum, whence it has been inferred that this side hall as well as
the corresponding one on the north-west side were used as gymnasia or ball
courts (sphæristeria), with galleries for spectators. The purpose of the
rooms situated on each side of the rotunda is not known, but it has been
conjectured that they were additional tepidaria, since even the
magnificent central tepidarium is hardly large enough to furnish the
accommodation spoken of by Olympiodorus, who stated that there were 1600
marble seats for bathers in the Antonine Baths.[117]
There were numerous chambers in the upper stories in and about these large
halls, to which the staircases led, one of which has been restored. These
were perhaps used as libraries, picture galleries, and museums of
curiosities.
The whole north-eastern side of the court which surrounded these central
halls consists of ranges of rooms built of brick and opening outwards.
Many of these are still standing, and the traces of an upper story are to
be seen over some of them (j, j). Different opinions have been held as to
their use. Some writers think that they were offices and rooms for the
slaves belonging to the establishment, others that they were separate
baths for women. The principal entrance to the enclosure was in the centre
of this side of the court.
On the north-western side of the court the remains can be traced of a
large shallow tribune in the shape of a segment of a circle and surrounded
by a vaulted corridor or cloister (k). Within this were three large
apartments, probably used as lecture and conversation rooms. The rest of
this side has entirely disappeared, as has also the opposite south-eastern
side with the exception of one of the large apartments. These two sides of
the court probably correspond in the same way as the wings of the central
building.
The fourth side of the court was occupied by an immense reservoir of water
divided into numerous compartments (l), in front of which was the cavea of
a stadium (m), and on each side two large halls, possibly used as
dressing-rooms and gymnasia (n, n).
The reservoir was supplied with water by a branch aqueduct from the Aqua
Marcia.
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