A dictionary of Greek and Roman . nience of traders as wellas loungers, then the semicircular and external tri-bune was adopted, in order that the noise and con-fusion in the basilica might not interrupt theproceedings of the magistrates. (Vitruv. I. c.) Inthe centre of this tribune was placed the curulechair of the praetor, and seats for the judices, whosometimes amounted to the number of 180 ( vi. 33), and the advocates ; and round thesides of the hemicycle, called the wings (cornua),were seats for persons of distinction, and for theparties engaged in the proceedings. I
A dictionary of Greek and Roman . nience of traders as wellas loungers, then the semicircular and external tri-bune was adopted, in order that the noise and con-fusion in the basilica might not interrupt theproceedings of the magistrates. (Vitruv. I. c.) Inthe centre of this tribune was placed the curulechair of the praetor, and seats for the judices, whosometimes amounted to the number of 180 ( vi. 33), and the advocates ; and round thesides of the hemicycle, called the wings (cornua),were seats for persons of distinction, and for theparties engaged in the proceedings. It was in thewing of the tribune that Tiberius sat to overawethe judgment at the trial of Granius Marcellus. (Tacit. Ann. i. 75.) The two side aisles, as hasbeen said, were separated from the centre one by arow of columns, behind each of which was placeda square pier or pilaster (parastata^ Vitruv. I. c),which supported the flooring of an upper portico,similar to the gallery of a modern church. Theupper gallery was in like manner decorated with. columns of smaller dimensions than those below ;and these served to support the roof, and wereconnected with one another by a parapet-wall orbalustrade (platens, Vitruv. I. c.), which served asa defence against the danger of falling over, andscreened the crowd of loiterers above (suLbasilicani,Plaut. Capt. iv. 2. 35) from the people of businessin the area below. (Vitruv. I. c.) This galleryreached entirely round the inside of the building,and was frequented by women as well as men, thewomen on one side and the men on the other, whowent to hear and see what was going on. ( c.) The staircase which led to the upper porticowas on the outside, as is seen in the plan of thebasilica of Pompeii. It is similarly situated in thebasilica of Constantine. The Avhole area of thesemagnificent structures was covered in with threeseparate ceilings, of the kmd called testudinatum,like a tortoise-shell ; in technical language nowdenominated coved, a
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