The archæology of Rome, Part 7 : $b The Flavian amphitheatre, commonly called the ColosseumParker, John Henry
History
The archæology of Rome, Part 7 : $b The Flavian amphitheatre, commonly called the Colosseum
Parker, John Henry
Rome -- Antiquities
_This Plate is a reproduction of Photograph with no attempt at
restoration._
The resemblance between this and the Colosseum in Rome is so remarkable,
that there can be no doubt one is a copy from the other. In this
amphitheatre the two canals for water, on each side of the great central
passage, and the curved passage round the outer edge, are distinctly
visible. At Capua, the aqueduct for the water, and the drain to carry it
off, remain.
AMPHITHEATRE AT POMPEII, FROM A FRESCO PAINTING.
The lower view is from a fresco at Pompeii. It shews the awning is drawn
off behind. There is a front built out distinct from the oval building,
with which it is connected by a curved wall at each end, and on which
is a passage with persons upon it; there are two grand flights of steps
leading up to the top, and persons going up them. These steps are carried
on arches, increasing in height as they get nearer the top. The front
passage is also carried on tall arches. All these arrangements for the
entrance and exit seem to be a bad substitute for the _vomitoria_ of the
Roman Colosseum.
There appears to be another place of amusement of some kind by the side
of the amphitheatre. A square space enclosed by a high wall, with two
arches on one side or doorways (?), probably a school for gladiators,
with an _impluvium_ in the middle. There is an inscription on the wall,
of which all that is legible is DIVCRET ...; there is also in the front
of the picture a tent with persons under it, and two small square or
oblong huts, evidently of wood, the planks being shewn in one with a
door; this was probably a wine-shop.
There are a number of figures in active motion in all parts of the
picture, many of them evidently fighting, and it represents a skirmish
between the Nucerini and the Pompeiani; the inhabitants of a neighbouring
town, called Nuceria or Nocera, having made a sudden inroad on Pompeii,
the Pompeians are flying in all directions, closely followed, some dying
and some dead. These hand-to-hand fights are seen on the arena, in
the corridors or _ambulatories_, on the walls of the town, and on the
esplanade round the building, which is planted with trees for shade[253].
THE COLOSSEUM.
PLATE XXVIII.
AMPHITHEATRE AT CAPUA.
[Illustration: AMPHITHEATRE AT CAPUA—VIEW AND DETAILS]
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXVIII.
AMPHITHEATRE AT CAPUA.
A. Perspective view, looking down upon it, with a restoration of the
canals for water.
d. The pavement.
g g. Walls to support the canals of water.
h h. Dens for the wild beasts.
i. Socket for a pivot.
k k. Canals for water.
B. One of the chambers in the substructure of the time of Hadrian, with
the aqueduct, l, and an opening made in the vault.
THE COLOSSEUM.
PLATE XXIX.
AMPHITHEATRE AT CAPUA.
DETAILS.
[Illustration: AMPHITHEATRE AT CAPUA—DETAILS
A. PORTION OF EXTERIOR
B. LONGITUDINAL SECTION
C. PORTION OF ARCADES AND DENS
D. PLAN OF THE SAME]
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE XXIX.
AMPHITHEATRE AT CAPUA.
DETAILS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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