It is interesting to compare this amphitheatre with some of the best known existing ones in Europe. The table here quoted is given by M. Pelet in his description of the amphitheatre of Nîmes. I assume the accuracy of his dimensions regarding other buildings—those of El-Djem are by no means correct, but that is not wonderful, as accurate information on the subject was not easily obtainable.
| Amphitheatres of | Major axis. Exterior. | Minor axis. Exterior. | Arena. | Thickness of building. | Area of arena. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Major. | Minor. | |||||
| Mètres. | Sq. m. | |||||
| El-Djem | 148·50 | 122· | 64·92 | 52·22 | 41·79 | |
| Pozzuoli | 190·95 | 144·89 | 111·93 | 65·85 | 51·01 | 5.788 |
| Rome | 187·77 | 155·76 | 85·75 | 53·62 | 51·01 | 3.611 |
| Capua | 169·89 | 139·60 | 76·12 | 45·85 | 46·88 | 2.74 |
| Verona | 154·18 | 122·89 | 75·68 | 44·39 | 39·25 | 2.638 |
| Pola | 137·80 | 112·60 | 70·00 | 44·80 | 33·90 | 2.463 |
| Arles | 137·47 | 107·29 | 69·50 | 39·35 | 33·97 | 2.147 |
| Pompeii | 135·65 | 104·05 | 66·65 | 35·05 | 34·50 | 1.834 |
| Nîmes | 132·18 | 110·38 | 69·14 | 38·34 | 31·52 | 2.092 |
| Taragon | 148·13 | 118·89 | 84·459 | 55·223 | 31·85 | 3.664 |
FOOTNOTES:
[128]Ibn Khaldoun, trad. de Slane, i. p. 215.
[129]De Bello Afr. c. xxxvi.
[130]Guérin, i. p. 99.
[131]Shaw, p. 206.
[132]El-Bekri, trad. de Slane, p. 77.
[133]This still exists, written in Italian, by Balugani. It is useless, however, without the lettered drawings to which it refers.
[134]This problem has been thoroughly solved since Bruce’s time. In the amphitheatre of Nîmes the method of supporting the masts is perfectly apparent.