CHAP. XX. Of the Amphitheatres, and first of that of Statilius Taurus.
NOw it followeth to speake of the Amphitheatre of Statilius Taurus, but before we write there∣of, it would bee breefely shewed what an Amphitheatre is. Now this word Amphitheatrum commeth 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, i. of looking round about: for two prospects joined in one, make the forme of an hemisphere or halfe circle. Some thinke, that Titus devised the Amphitheatre first, but some avow and prove, that C. Caesar built the first that ever was in Mars field: but by the autho∣ritie of Suetonius it is proved, that Statilius reared one Amphitheatre before Titus.
In these Amphitheatres were prises and rewards propounded to them that would fight with beasts. Condemned persons likewise yeelded there to the eies of men a horrible and fearefull sight to be∣hold, for thither were those prisoners brought by the Lictours, within that enclosure to wrestle and maintaine conflict with wild beasts.
Moreover, the emperours before they tooke their journey to any war or expedition, exhibited unto the people in these Amphitheatres shewes of sword-fencers at the sharpe for life and death, to the end, that the souldiours should be acquainted with fight, and learne not to be affraid of weapons, of wounds, no nor of bloud shed, nor to draw backe and avoid the perils of warre to come, for the no∣veltie and strangenesse thereof. A great part of Statilius his Amphitheatrum, is yet to bee seene neere the wals, at S. Crosses church in Hierusalem. And at the same time hee built it, when Augustus Caesar en∣couraged and exhorted the cittizens of Rome, every man according to his abilitie to beautifie and adorne the citie.