Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/40

28 in the floor. In either case there were seats round by the wall, formed of two steps, the upper one called the "pulvinus," the lower one "gradus inferior," measuring together two feet in height. Presuming these remains to be those of a laconicum only, we find it formed exactly according to the directions of Vitruvius. The parts that remain entire are, the "suspensura," or suspended floor, and the hypocaustum beneath; the concrete floor was entire when first discovered, but being broken through by the workmen exposed the hypocaustum beneath; see plans B. I, and B. II, The upper walls are 2 ft. thick, these remain only at the east with a portion of the return wall at either angle, and when first opened were about 4ft. 6 in. in height; in one part of the end is a seat in a recess 2 ft. 6 in. long, in another part is the opening through which was the access to the apartment, about 4 ft. wide, and recessed back 14in.; the hypocaustum below is surrounded by walls about 2 ft. thick, except where it joins the wall of the atrium, and there only one foot, and inclosing an area of 10 ft. 8 in. by 9 ft. or thereabouts, and 2 ft. high; the floor formed by a bed of concrete and flat tiles laid irregularly on it; on this floor rest a number of dwarf pillars, "pilæ," ranging in rows east and west and north and south, there being six in the two middle rows from east to west, and five in each of the next rows on either side, and four in each of the two others, the longer rows extending into the semi- circular end, all being about Sin. square, formed "laterculis bessalibus," or with small tiles of 8 in., as directed by Vitruvius, the spaces between them being about 14 in. each way, one of each in the outer rows touching the walls but none ojf the others, thus leaving free access for the hot air rushing in