ROMAN VILLAS DISCOVERED IN DORSET. 235 



day. Dr. Stukeley calculated that it would accommodate 

 close on 13,000 spectators. In the 18th century it was used as 

 the place of public execution, and 10,000 persons are said to 

 have been present at the last execution in 1705. A different, 

 but not less disgusting, sight claims our attention. Some great 

 national festival is at hand, and there are to be games in the 

 Amphitheatre. The " Gens Togata " and majesty of Imperial 

 Rome will show itself. High officials may even join in the 

 contests. In Whyte Melville's " Gladiators," which we believe 

 gives a faithful picture of Imperial Rome, the Patrician 

 Placidus enters the arena as a Retiarius. Our Roman, 

 clad in his Toga ; wearing finger rings such as have been 

 found at Fifehead (at first a military distinction, then a 

 Senatorial privilege, but afterwards extended to knights 

 and other classes) ; will drive in his chariot to attend the 

 show. The ladies of his household will be there also. They 

 will be distinguishable more by their ornaments than by their 

 dress, for the Toga was worn by both sexes. They will 

 appear in their gayest attire, wearing their Fibulae or brooches, 

 and Armillse (bracelets), as found at Fifehead Neville, Brac- 

 chialia (armlets) like that from Maumbury, Crinales (hair- 

 pins) such as the beautiful specimen of bronze found at Dor- 

 chester ; also may be seen Tores or cords of gold, worn round 

 the neck or on the arm, such as had been introduced from Gaul, 

 and are amongst the relics found at Neville. On the head 

 would be worn Coronse (wreaths). 



But the greater number of the spectators would be drawn 

 from the native population. In contrast to the richly dressed 

 Romans, these would come in their rough dress made from 

 the skins of animals taken in the chase ; the women, perhaps, 

 wearing leather aprons, adorned with beads, much after the 

 fashion of the African to-day. And then the show ! Gladia- 

 torial combats ; fierce exhibitions of courage, strength, and 

 skill ; crowned with the victor's wreath, or alas, doomed to 

 the fatal penalty awarded to ignoble defeat. These, with 

 various kinds of races, constituted in all probability the prin- 

 cipal amusements which the civilising Roman provided for 



