_Of other public Buildings._
Theatres, so called from the Greek {theaomai}, to see, owe their origin
to Bacchus.
That the theatres and amphitheatres were two different sorts of
edifices, was never questioned, the former being built in the shape of a
semicircle; the other generally oval, so as 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 for quite different ends: the theatres for stage plays, the
amphitheatres for the greater shows of gladiators, wild beasts, &c. The
following are the most important parts of both.
_Scena_ was a partition reaching quite across the theatre, being made
either to turn round or draw up, to present a new prospect to the
spectators.
_Proscenium_ was the space of ground just before the scene, where the
_pulpitum_ stood, into which the actors came from behind the scenes to
perform.
The middle part, or area of the amphitheatre, was called _cavae_, because
it was considerably lower than the other parts, whence perhaps, the name
of pit in our play houses was borrowed; and arena, because it used to be
strown with sand, to hinder the performers from slipping.
There was a threefold distinction of the seats, according to the
ordinary division of the people into senators, knights, and commons. The
first range was called orchestra, from {orcheisthai}, because in that
part of the Grecian theatres, the dances were performed; the second
_equestria_; and the other _popularia_.
[Illustration:
Ruins of the Flavian Amphitheatre, commonly called
the Colisaeum. Pl. 2.]
The Flavian amphitheatre, now better known by the name of the
_Colisaeum_, from its stupendous magnitude, excites the astonishment of
the world. It was five hundred fifty feet in length, and four hundred
seventy 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
theatres; but there was a large box projecting from one side, and
covered with a canopy of state for the accommodation of the emperor and
the magistrates, who were surrounded with all the insignia of office.
As combats of wild beasts formed a chief part of the amusements, they
were secured in dens around the arena or stage, which was strongly
encircled by a canal, to guard the spectators against their attacks.
These precautions, however, were not always sufficient, and instances
occurred in which the animals sprung across the barrier.
This huge pile was commenced by Vespasian, and was reared with a portion
of the materials of Nero's golden palace: its form was oval, and it is
supposed to have contained upwards of eighty thousand persons. A large
part of this vast edifice still remains.
Theatres, in the first ages of the commonwealth, were only temporary,
and composed of wood. Of these, the most celebrated was that of Marcus
Scaurus--the scenes of which were divided 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 top of all had the same number of pillars adorned with gilded
tablets. Between the pillars were set three thousand statues and images
of brass. The _cavca_ would hold eighty thousand men.
Pompey the great was the first who undertook the raising of a fixed
theatre, which he built nobly of square stone. Some of the remains of
this theatre are still to be seen at Rome.
The _circi_ were places set apart for the celebration of several sorts
of games:--they were generally oblong or almost in the shape of a bow,
having a wall quite round, with ranges of seats for the convenience of
spectators. At the entrance of the circus stood the _carceres_ or lists,
whence they started, and just by them, one of the _metae_ or marks--the
other standing at the farther end to conclude the race.
The most remarkable, was the _circus maximus_, built by Tarquinius
Priscus:--the length of it was four _stadia_, or furlongs, the breadth
the same number of acres, 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 adorned by succeeding
princes, and enlarged to such a prodigious extent as to be able to
contain in their proper seats two hundred and sixty thousand spectators.
The _naumachiae_ or places for the shows of sea-engagements are no where
particularly described; but we may suppose them similar to the _circi_
and amphitheatres.
The _stadia_ were places in the form of _circi_, for the running of men
and horses. A beautiful one was built by Domitian. The _xysti_ were
places constructed like porticos, in which the wrestlers exercised.
The _Campus Martius_, famous on so many accounts, was a large plain
field, lying near the Tiber, whence we find it sometimes under the name
of _Tiberinus_:--it was called _Martius_, because it had been
consecrated by the old Romans to the god Mars. Besides the pleasant
situation and other natural 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. Besides this, it was nobly adorned with the
statues of famous men, with arches, columns and porticos, and other
magnificent structures. Here stood the _villa publica_ or palace, for
the reception and entertainment of ambassadors from foreign states, who
were not allowed to enter the city.
The Roman _curiae_ were of two sorts, divine and civil. In the former,
the priests and religious orders met for the regulation of the rites and
ceremonies belonging to the worship of the gods. In the other, the
senate used to assemble, to consult about the public concerns of the
commonwealth. The senate could not meet in such a place, unless it had
been solemnly consecrated by the augurs, and made of the same nature as
a temple.
The Roman forums were public buildings about three times as long as they
were broad. All the compass of the forum was surrounded by arched
porticos, some passages being left as places of entrance.
There were two kinds, _fora civilia_ and _fora venalia_. The first were
designed for the ornaments of the city, and for the use of public courts
of justice. The 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 forum, built by Romulus, and adorned with
porticos on all sides, by Tarquinius Priscus: This was the most ancient
and most frequently used in public affairs.
The Julian forum, built by Julius Caesar, with the spoils taken in the
Gallic war; the area alone, cost one hundred thousand _sesterces_, equal
to 3570 dollars.
The Augustan forum, built by Augustus Caesar, containing statues in the
two porticos, on each side of the main building. In one were all the
Latin kings, beginning with AEneas: in the other all the Roman kings,
beginning with Romulus, and most of the eminent persons in the
commonwealth, and Augustus himself among the rest, with an inscription
upon the pedestal of every statue, expressing the chief actions and
exploits of the person it represented.
The forum of Trajan, erected by the emperor Trajan, with the foreign
spoils he had taken in the wars; the covering was all brass, and the
porticos exceedingly beautiful.
The chief _fora venalia_ or markets, were _boarium_, for oxen and beef,
_suarium_, for swine, _pistorium_, for bread, _cupedinarium_, for
dainties, and _holitorium_, for roots, sallads and similar things.
The _comitium_ was only a part of the Roman forum, which served
sometimes for the celebration of the _comitia_; here stood the _rostra_,
a kind of pulpit, adorned with the beaks of ships taken in a sea fight,
from the inhabitants of Antium in Italy; here causes were pleaded,
orations made, and funeral panegyrics delivered.