MERGE TO GYRENE. 
529 
edge of the precipice appears from the upper seats to be close at the 
foot of the ranges, although the whole of the arena intervenes, and 
it often made us giddy to look down from them. As the lower 
ranges of seats are not in their places, it is difficult to ascertain the 
diameter of the arena, but it seems to have been more than a hundred 
feet across ; and to have been, like that which we have mentioned 
at Ptolemeta, of a perfectly circular form. There is no appearance 
of any praecinctions, owing probably to the absence of interior com- 
munications, which are not to be found in this building ; and it seems 
to have been chiefly approached from the top, which is equal in 
height with the level summit of the hill, against which the seats 
are on this side built. The most natural approach would certainly 
have been that which leads from the fountain of Apollo, along the 
edge of the descent which we have mentioned : this will be evident 
from the plan of the city; but strong walls, which are undoubtedly of 
ancient construction, cross the road here so completely as to preclude 
the possibility of any approach from the city to the amphitheatre in 
this direction. If the walls which we allude to had not been standing 
at the present day many feet above the level of the road, we should 
have concluded that they must originally have contained gates which 
led to the arena ; but there is no appearance whatever of such com- 
munication, even supposing that the gates were approached by flights 
of steps, which would not have been an unreasonable conjecture. 
The only road which remains (under the difficulties stated) must 
at the same time have been a circuitous one ; and as it communicated 
merely with the level summit of the hill, against which the seats 
