Buried Cities, Complete - Pompeii, Olympia, Mycenae by Jennie Hall
page 46 of 107 (42%)
page 46 of 107 (42%)
|
criminals condemned to death. Sometimes a man was pitted against a wild
beast; sometimes two wild beasts fought each other. The amphitheater had no roof. Vesuvius, with its column of smoke, was in plain view from the seats. There was a great awning to protect the spectators. The lower seats were for officials and distinguished people; for the middle rows there was an admission fee; all the upper seats were free. RUINS OF THE GREAT STABIAN BATHS. A few large houses had baths of their own, but most people went every day to a great public bath which was a very gay place. This open court which you see, was for games. THE RUINED TEMPLE OF APOLLO. The temple was built on a high foundation. A broad flight of steps led up to it, with an altar at the foot. There was a porch all round it held up by a row of columns. Some of the columns have stood up through all the earthquakes and eruptions of two thousand years. Inside the porch was a small room for the statue of Apollo. In the paved court around this temple were many altars and statues of the gods. This was at one time the most important temple in Pompeii. THE SCHOOL OF THE GLADIATORS. In this large open court the gladiators had their training and practice. In small cells around the court they lived. They were kept under close |
|