408 
MERGE TO GYRENE. 
mentioned by other writers on the coasts of Tunis and Algiers. 
The present state of Apollonia affords another decided instance 
of the advance of the sea to the southward; and portions of the 
elevated ground on which the front of the town has been built 
are continually falling in from this cause. The scene of the 
principal theatre situated without the wall, to the eastward of 
the town, has been wholly swept away by the waves, although the 
quarry in front of it must have greatly contributed to break the force 
of the sea in this quarter. It will be seen by the plan of the town 
of Apollonia, that a part of this theatre is built against the wall of 
the citadel, and the other part against the high ground behind the 
subsellia. The seats appear in consequence to have been approached 
from above, we mean, from the ground on a level with the upper, 
most range ; and as the greater number of the ranges are still very 
perfect, the effect of the whole building is that of a stupendous flight 
of steps leading down from the elevated ground against which they 
lean to the beach on a level with the orchestra. It is this effect, 
we presume, which induced Signor Della Celia to notice the seats 
of the theatre as a “ magnificent staircase*;” and it must be con- 
fessed that a more noble flight of steps will not often be seen 
than the one which is in question. This building, like those of a 
similar nature at Cyrene and Ptolemeta, has no interior communica- 
tions ; and the body of the people appear to have entered from 
* Sulla spiaggia v’hanno maestosi ruder! di caseggiati, con avanzi di magnifica scali- 
nata presso al mare. (p. 155 .) 
