STADIUM

(Gr. <rr«3/ev.) A measure of length in use among the ancient Greeks and some other nations, the precise value of which is unknown; though there are some data from which a rough approximation to its value may be made. The most ancient measurement of an arc of the terrestrial meridian is that of Eratosthenes, and the result gave the length of the circumference of a great circle = 250,000 stadia. But the circumference of the earth's equator is known to be nearly 25,000 English miles; whence, supposing the measurement of Eratosthenes to be correct, a stadium is the tenth part of an English mile. Posidonius found by another measurement the circumference of the earth to be 240,000 stadia: on the same supposition of an accurate determination, this gives about 9^ stadia to the English mile. But it is to be remarked, that little dependence can be placed on these ancient measurements; for Ptolemy estimated the circumference of the earth at 180,000 stadia, which is only 3-4ths of the result found by Posidonius. The stadium is, however, supposed to have been different at different places. (See Paucton, Metrologies also the Quarterly Review, No. 5.) The best account of the stadium, and the ancient mode of measuring distances, is to be collected from the various memoirs of Danville, in. the Mem. de V Acad, des Inscr. vols, xxiv.xxviii.xxxvi.; and His to ire de FAcad. vols, xxvii. xxx i. Stadium. In Ancient Architecture, an open area used for exercises by the Grecian youth. With the Romans it was much in the form of the circi, but most of the Grecian stadia were enclosed by merely an earthen, mound. Vitruvius informs us that its length was much greater than its breadth; the lists were formed by a bank or terrace. Though the stadium mostly formed part of a gymnasium, it sometimes formed a separate structure, and was built at great cost and with considerable elegance; witne that on the Corinthian Isthmus mentioned by Pausanias, as well as that of Herodie Atticus at Athens, which was of large dimensions, and constructed of Pen tel i can marble. Besides this, mention is made by that author of several others. 4D 3 [s. 1154]