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CAMPVS MARTIVS
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Finally
feeling more human after the pleasure of the baths that had cured his
hangover, Musa and the apprentice decided to make their way from the
baths to the Theatre of Marcellus.
They were on their way to watch one of the performances that was
being held that afternoon. As they left the baths and turned to head
south they
were immediately faced with the massive buildings of the Theatre of Pompey
and
the Porticus of Pompey. The apprentice could see the tip of a structure
on top
of the cavea of the theatre, which made his never-ending curiosity
about Rome
resurface. Once again began questioning Musa.
"That's the theatre of Pompey at the far end," explained Musa pointing
down the street in the direction of the Tiber. "It was built 56 years
ago, the structure that you can see at the top of the cavea is the
temple to Venus
Victrix. You see, Pompey had to fool the censors into letting him build
the
theatre because they were always against having permanent theatre
buildings in
the centre of Rome." The young apprentice looked at him in surprise.
Musa
nodded and continied, "They believed theatres would be perfect
places for riots to start and that regular access to the arts would
lead to
idleness and effeminacy.(1) So
Pompey built a temple at the top of the building,
using the seats as steps, the building could then be dedicated as a
temple
and not as a theatre."
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As Musa started to walk around the Porticus of Pompey, the apprentice looked disappointed because he had really wanted to go and see the room at the eastern end of the portico. That was where Julius Caesar had been murdered on the Ides of March. But Musa explained that they had a few more things to do that afternoon before the theatre and if they were going to get everything done they should avoid that porticus; it was one of the busiest in the city. After-all they did not want to spend all afternoon in there. They continued on their walk down the road between the Porticus Minucia and the four temples dating back to republican times with the temple round of Fortuna Huiusce Deie in the middle. Suddenly, just after they had passed the portico of Minucia the apprentice looked up and realised that they were in the shadow of a huge stone theatre. Musa explained that it was the Theatre of Balbus built by L. Corneluius Balbus the younger. It had only been finished 12 years ago. The apprentice continued to follow Musa as he led them past the rounded cavea of the theatre, once again he resumed his questioning of Musa, wishing to know everything about the building. |
Musa, sighing in exasperation, explained how the theatre actually contained four columns of Egyptian onyx. Thinking back, Musa remembered the day of the dedication. On the day of the inauguration of the building 14 years ago the Tiber had flooded so the people who wanted to celebrate the dedication of the building had had to arrive in boats across the water. The young apprentice smiled at Musa's tale.
Musa
and the apprentice carried on walking towards the theatre of Marcellus
as they
talked. They passed the temple of Hercules of the Muses almost
unnoticed. It was then that the apprentice realised that they were at
the
entrance to the Porticus Octaviae and he insisted that he and Musa must
go in.
FROM THE THERMAE AGRIPPAE HOME TO THE PORTICUS OCTAVIAE
