Page 106 - A Walk to Caesarea / Joseph Patrich

92 Archaeological Review The Contraction of the Arena (Fig. 92)

Fig. 92 Four thin, curved walls, 91.5–136.5 m distant from the southern gate, indicate
Stages in the contraction of the reduction of the arena towards the south, to the rounded area of the seats
the arena (sphendone) and converting it into an oval amphitheater on four different occasions.
The walls delimiting the shortened arena on the north never attained monumental
nature, so it seems that they should be considered as related to one-time events and
not as permanent structures.

In the shortened amphitheater, a subterranean system of tunnels and spaces was
installed beneath the arena that served for bringing up scenery and wild beasts
for gladitorial combats and hunting shows. At the same time, the dignitaries’
platform was shifted southward, so that it was located more or less opposite the
center of the shortened arena. Emperor Maximinus sat on this platform when he
witnessed the martyrdom of Agapius (306), whom he had ordered to be given as
prey to a bear. As part of these religious persecutions, which began at the order
of Diocletian (284–305), other Christians were thrown as prey to animals in
the city stadium. The reality of the gladiatorial combats and the hunting shows
was familiar to the rabbis, even though the word “amphitheater” does not occur
in these sources. Instead the word “qenigin” is used (from the Greek kynegion,
meaning hunting) for both the spectacle and the facility in which it took place
(see, for example, BT Avodah Zarah 18b).

Beneath the new dignitaries’ platform was a sanctuary, sacellum, spanned by two
arches that supported the floor of the platform above it (Fig. 93). In the fill that
accumulated there many clay lamps were found and also five votive marble feet
(Fig. 94), which were clearly brought as offerings so as to receive a blessing and
strength for the feet of the competitors. One of them bears a Greek dedicatory
inscription to the goddess Kore, who was apparently the patroness of the sanctuary;