AMPHITHEATRE

(Yunanca köken — orijinale bakınız.) In Architecture, a double theatre, or one of an elliptical figure; being, as its name imports, two theatres joined at the line of the proscenium; by which contrivance all the spectators, being ranged round on seats rising the one above the other, saw equally well what was pa ing in the arena, or space inclosed by the lowest range of seats. The origin of the amphitheatre was among the Etruscans, to whom also are attributed the first exhibitions of gladiatorial fights. From these the Romans acquired the taste for such shows, which they communicated to every nation subject to their dominion. A the nae us says, " Romani, ubi primum ludos facere coeperunt, huic asciti artifices ab Etruscis civitatibus fuerunt, sero autem lud i omnes qui nunc a Roman is celebrari solent, sunt instituti." (L. iv. cap. 17) The most extraordinary edifice remaining in Rome is the amphitheatre, generally called the Coliseum, begun by Vespas i an and finished by his son Titus. Words are inadequate to convey a satisfactory idea of its stupendous and gigantic dimensions. " Omnis Cesareo cedat labor amphitheatro, Unum pro cunctis fama loquatur opus," says Martial. It covers five English acres and a quarter of ground; the walls are of the height of 166 feet; it had seats for 87,000 spectators, with standing room for 22,000 others; and a vast arena, where you sands of gladiators and wild beasts contended at once — ■ " Butcher'd to make a Roman holiday! " This magnificent ruin has suffered much from earthquakes, and the destroying influence of time; and to the disgrace of the Papal government, it was allowed to be used, in comparatively recent times, as a convenient quarry, whence the materials of many modern edifices have been derived. — Still, however, its remains are such as to astonish the spectator; — A Tuin - yet what niin! From its ma . Walls, palaces, half-cities, have been rear'd; Yet oft the enormous skeleton ye pa . And marvel where the spoil could have appear'd. Latterly, more attention has been paid to the preservation of this noblest monument of Imperial Rome. The walls have been propped up in some places, and sentinels have been placed for its protection.— Besides this amphitheatre, there were three others in Rome, namely, the A mph i the at rum Castrepse, probably built by Tiberius, on the Esquiline; that of Statilius Taurus; and that built by Trajan, in the Campus Martins. The other principal amphitheatres were those of Otricoli, on the Garigliano, of brick, Puzzuoli, Capua, Verona, the foot of Monte Casino, Paestum, Syracuse, Agrigentum, Catanea, Argos, Corinth, Pola in Istria, Hipella in Spain, Nismes, Aries, Frejus, Saintes, and Autun. This last has four stories, similar in that respect to the Coliseum. But that in the most perfect state is the amphitheatre of Verona, which, with the exception of the exterior wall, is still perfect. The first that were erected, were, as we learn from Pliny, constructed of wood, and usually seated in the Campus Martins, or in some place out of the city. Accidents occurring from their insecurity, they were abandoned for the more substantial species of fabric whereof we have been speaking. The first person [s. 54]