380 BENGAZI.

English miles and a half*'; its length, from north to south, something less than a mile f , and its breadth from east to west something more than three-quarters J.

Such of the plans of the buildings at Ptolemeta as could in their present state be satisfactorily made out, will be found in plate (page 385 ;) but although the forms of the theatres and amphitheatre prevent their being mistaken for other buildings, it would not be possible without excavation to make out their details with any accuracy.

Ve have given our idea of the larger of the two theatres, from the appearance and the measurements of the existing remains of it §, but the smaller one was too much ruined, and too much encumbered, to allow of our hazarding a similar attempt, and we have confined ourselves to its general dimensions, as given in the plan of the town. W e may reckon the diameter of the orchestra of the larger theatre at about one hundred and forty-five English feet, and that of the part appropriated to the cunei, at about fifty of the same. The whole diameter of the theatre would thus be two hundred and forty-five feet. It will be observed that the area of the orchestra is very considerably larger than that occupied by the same part of the building in Greek and Roman theatres in general, and that the passages leading into it are wider in proportion to the cunei than usual. It will also be seen, from the absence of any proecinctions, that there were no interior communications in this theatre, by which the spectators dispersed themselves over the body of the house : the only approach to * 480 feet less. f 480 less. % 440 more. § See plate.