2 August 1778 Sunday
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Artifacts of the Bianconi vs Piranesi 'Circus of Caracalla' affair 1772-1789
There is multi-page description (in Italian and French) of this large fold-out ground plan within Descrizione dei circhi, particolarmente di quello di Caracalla e dei giochi in esso celebrati. Eventually the whole description will be translated here in English.
Plate I
Plan of the Circus
Ground Plan
Fig. I. The plan of this Circus exists entirely: it was also necessary to make some excavations at the foot of the podium, at the draft, and at the prisons, notwithstanding those made by Mr. Bianconi; the former, to rectify the situation, shape and number of the ladders, leading to the podium and to the seats; the second to find the height of the spine, and the width, and configuration of its heads, the diameter of the two small temples, their depth, and internal and external shape; the latter to know the thickness of the walls that divide the prisons, and their direction. All this was done with the aim of faithfully outlining the plan, which was missing in many parts in a drawing and in a print by the author. The dotted lines, between which the main dimensions are noted, give an idea of ??the method used to rectify the measures of the present plan; in the description of which, to avoid confusion and repetitions, use is made of the same letters, which served as a particular description in Chapter IV. The first Arabic numerals indicate the fathoms; the second and third, distinguished by one and two accents, or strokes, indicate the feet, and the inches, the measure of France.
46 y.o. Francesco Piranesi 1804
Le Antichità della Magna Grecia Parte I
Elevation and Section of the Tomb of Mamia with its Restorations in the City of Pompeii.
Drawn by G.B. Piranesi
Engraved by F. Piranesi Year 12 (1804)
2 August 1812 Sunday
Light lee clouds, wind NW, temperature 70°. About 9 a clear Bull's Eye center northerly W with new clouds under it peeping above the horizon. The vapor exhaling from last evening's rain which will probably hide the sky before noon. On our return from Meeting we observed that the clouds had not advanced to the S, but appeared almost stationary as before Meeting. Checked as I supposed by a contrary current in their level, altho the air was yet perceptible from the N, but about 3 PM the southerly current prevailed below and with a fresh breeze. Temperature to 82°
2 August 2020
2 August 2023 Wednesday
Moon on the line.
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