1. Greek and Roman stoas
Philostratus (circa 170/172 - 247/250 AD) wrote that the marble colonnade between the Magnesian Gate and the Temple of Artemis was built by the wealthy Sophist Damianus of Ephesus so that "the worshippers need not stay away from the temple in case of rain" (see Selcuk gallery 1, page 4).
The Roman architect Vitruvius (circa 80-70 - after 15 BC), was also concerned that stoas should protect theatre-goers from the rain:
"Behind the scenes [theatre facades] porticos are to be built; to which, in the case of sudden showers, the people may retreat from the theatre, and also sufficiently capacious for the rehearsals of the chorus: such are the porticos of Pompey, of Eumenes at Athens, and of the temple of Bacchus [Dionysus]."
Vitruvius, de Architectura, Book V, Chapter 9, section 1. At Bill Thayer's excellent LacusCurtius website, University of Chicago.
See also:
Athens Acropolis gallery, page 33, on the Stoa of Eumenes, Athens.
Stageira gallery, page 22, on the stoa in the agora of Aristotle's hometown Stageira. |
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