Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-13
SOME oLD-WoRLD sTADlUMs.
Early Greek and Roman Fairgrounds
Some Recent American Enclo-
suras.

The revival of interest in the plan to
renewed discussion over the problem OF
where to build and what to build. Sew
eral places have been mentioned as
suitable for such project, but there
seems TO he a great diversity of opn :
ions on the subject. AS TO the size and
form which the structure should take
those who are pushing the movement
may obtain much valuable information
from an essay on stadiums by DIR.
George F.. KunZ. which forms part of
| an appendix to the report submitted to
the Legislature in March, 1872 by tho
American scenic and historical preser-
walton society.
DR.. Khnz first mentions the proposed
stadlums south of the city college and
on Riverside drive, and then gives a
short sketch of the history Of the an
cient stadium. He writes: "a
THE form and arrangement of The
stadium was first suggested by puEeh'
ma tlTal conditions. and the afchiteS-
tural features of the latter structures
were. in most cases, determined by the
laysof the land in the srot selected as
most appropriate to meet all require
ments. A broad, open space. banked
or surrounded by natural gradients
recommended itself for this purpose.
THE great stadium at Alympia was
established on the Altis. sacred pre-
cinct at the foot of the hill of kronos
which rose to an altitude of 403 feet
/ measured 80 feet in length and was
$40 feet wide. About it was wall
built, according to legend, by the god
Hercules. At the great Olympic games
celebrated here it is estimated that A.,
600 persons were accommodated within
the bounds of the stadium.
Even larger numbers, however, seem
to have been assembled in some other
Greek stadia; as. for instance, in that
of athens, which could furnish accom-
mediation for from AZ 600 to $4,000 per-
sons-the estimates vary-and the
enormous Stadium of the city of Ephe-
sus, in which 10000 persons are said
to have been gathered at one time.
",rhe Panathenaic stadium at Athens
was one of the important works mark
ing The administration of the Attic or
ator Lycurgus, a supporter of the
great Demosthenes t3S4-S22 b. c.. The
choice of the site. on the southern
Determined by it's use for gymnastic
contests at an earlier date. The ar
rangement for the accommodation of
those assembled to view the games
appears to have been originally some
what primitive, and it was only some
500 years later, through the munifi-
cence of Herodes Atticus, that splen-
did structure having tier upon tier d
seats covered With Pentalic marble, re-
/ placed the less comfortable and luXuri-
| Gus stadium of tie fourth century be-
| fore cur era.
"While the Romans did not greatly
! favor the peaceful sports which charm
+ co the Greeks. they copied the Greek
/ fashion to a certain extent. although
! at the outset only Temporary wooden
| structures were erected, which We're
! demolished at the conclusion of thS
games. julius Caesar is said to have
/ caused the first Roman stadium of this
type to be built. Later, however, some
s elaborate ones were put up, such as
! that constructed during the reign Of
Domitian (S1-9e 4. Do ON the Palatine
hill, and restored by Alexander Sev-
crus. Here, 10000 spectators could be
accommodated.