Page:History of Architecture in All Countries Vol 1.djvu/365

 bk. IV. ch. rv. BATHS. 333 portico extending the whole length of the building, into which opened a range of apartments, meant apparently to be used as private baths, which extend also some way up each side. In front of the hypocaust, facing the north-east, was a semicircus or theatridium, 5,30 ft. long, where youths performed their exercises or contended for prizes. rEi7J7iJ~ Mm 213. Baths of Caracalla, as restored by A. Blouet. These parts Avere, however, merely the accessories of the estab- lishment surrounding the garden, in which the princi])al l)uilding was placed. This Avas a rectangle 730 ft. by 380, with a projection cov- ered by a dome on the south-western side, Avhich was 167 ft. in diam- eter externally, and 115 ft. internally. There were two small courts (a a) included in the block, but nearly the whole of the rest appeai-s to have been roofed over. The modern building which approaches nearest in extent to this is ])robably our Parliament Houses. These are about 830 ft. in length, Avith an average breadth of about 300, and, Avith Westminster Hall, cover as nearly as may be the same area as the central block of these baths. But there the comparison stops ; there is no building of modern times on anything like the same scale, arranged Avholly for architectural effect as this one is, irrespective of any utilitarian ])urpose. On the other hand, the Avhole of the walls being covered with stucco,