1was a large ſemicircular Area verging to the
South, in which ſeveral Rows of Seats were
raiſed like thoſe in the Theatre, and the Wall
was raiſed very high on that Side to keep off
the ſouth Sun. All this open Space quite
round the whole Thermæ was encloſed, like a
Caſtle, with a continued Wall, and in this out
ward Wall were ſeveral handſome Rooms,
either quadrangular or ſemicircular, which
looked towards the Thermæ itſelf. In theſe
Rooms the Citizens at Morning or Evening, or
any Hour they liked beſt, enjoyed either Sun
or Shade. Beſides all theſe, and eſpecially to
wards the North, behind the incloſing Wall
were open Piazzas, of moderate Height, longer
than broad, and drawn upon a curve Plat
form. Theſe Piazzas were ſurrounded by cir
cular Porticoes, with a cloſe Wall at their
Back, ſo that very little Sky was to be ſeen in
theſe Piazzas, and between theſe Porticoes and
the main Incloſure was a very good Refuge
from the Heat in Summer, becauſe by means
of the Narrowneſs of the Piazza itſelf, and the
Height of the main Wall, the Sun, even in the
Summer Solſtice could hardly ſtrike in upon it.
In the Angles of the main Incloſure were Veſ
tibules and little Temples in which the Ma
trons, having cleanſed and purified themſelves,
offered Oblations to their Gods. This is a
brief Account of the ſeveral Members and Parts
of the ancient Thermæ or Baths, and the De
ſigns of the ſeveral Members were taken either
from the Structures which we have already de
ſcribed, or from thoſe which we are ſtill to
treat of, according as they had the greateſt Re
lation either to publick or to private Edifices;
and the Platform of moſt of the ancient
Edifices of this Sort contained above ten thou
ſand Foot ſquare.
South, in which ſeveral Rows of Seats were
raiſed like thoſe in the Theatre, and the Wall
was raiſed very high on that Side to keep off
the ſouth Sun. All this open Space quite
round the whole Thermæ was encloſed, like a
Caſtle, with a continued Wall, and in this out
ward Wall were ſeveral handſome Rooms,
either quadrangular or ſemicircular, which
looked towards the Thermæ itſelf. In theſe
Rooms the Citizens at Morning or Evening, or
any Hour they liked beſt, enjoyed either Sun
or Shade. Beſides all theſe, and eſpecially to
wards the North, behind the incloſing Wall
were open Piazzas, of moderate Height, longer
than broad, and drawn upon a curve Plat
form. Theſe Piazzas were ſurrounded by cir
cular Porticoes, with a cloſe Wall at their
Back, ſo that very little Sky was to be ſeen in
theſe Piazzas, and between theſe Porticoes and
the main Incloſure was a very good Refuge
from the Heat in Summer, becauſe by means
of the Narrowneſs of the Piazza itſelf, and the
Height of the main Wall, the Sun, even in the
Summer Solſtice could hardly ſtrike in upon it.
In the Angles of the main Incloſure were Veſ
tibules and little Temples in which the Ma
trons, having cleanſed and purified themſelves,
offered Oblations to their Gods. This is a
brief Account of the ſeveral Members and Parts
of the ancient Thermæ or Baths, and the De
ſigns of the ſeveral Members were taken either
from the Structures which we have already de
ſcribed, or from thoſe which we are ſtill to
treat of, according as they had the greateſt Re
lation either to publick or to private Edifices;
and the Platform of moſt of the ancient
Edifices of this Sort contained above ten thou
ſand Foot ſquare.
The End of Book VIII.
85[Figure 85]