GALLIA ROMANA

Database of texts and images
Of Gallo-Roman antiquities (15^th-17^th centuries)

Notice

Ville	Vienne (Isère, 38)
Subject(s)	Pyramid

Author(s)	Platter, Thomas II
	Physician from Basel, younger brother of Felix Platter (1574-1628)
Resource type	Manuscript
Date	1595
Inscription
References	Platter A λ V, f. 23= Keiser 1968, p. 48
Bibliography	Keiser 1968 ; Pelletier 1974, pp. 6-15 ; Pelletier 1982, pp. 221-222 ; Le Roy Ladurie 1995 ; Le Roy Ladurie 2000 ; Lemerle 2003, pp. 10-14 ; Lemerle 2005, pp. 28-31, 96
Remarks	The passage in italics was added by Platter subsequently to the period in which the rest of the text was written (1604-1605). The quadrifrons (square-sided) arch which constituted the base of the obelisk stood on the spina of the circus

Transcription « Als wier nach der morgensuppen auf dem Roddan, welcher an der statt hinfleüßt, wegfuhren, sahen wier vor dem thor, da man in daß Delphinat gehet, ein vierecketen, (pyramidem) außgespitzten thurn von quadersteinen, welchen Pilatus gebauwen soll haben einem Römer zu seiner begrebniß, oder wie andere meinen, zu einem zweck unndt termin der Römeren. Andere nennen es Pialti hauß, vermeinen, Tiberius habe ihn gebauwen zum zeichen, daß Pilati meyerhoff da gestanden. » = “After breakfast, we went along the Rhone, which flows through the town, and we saw, just beyond the gate that leads to the Dauphiné, a four sided (pyramid), pointy topped tower built with stone blocks, which some say Pilate built as a funeral monument for a Roman. Others say that it was a landmark and terminus for Roman troops. Others still call it 'Pilate's House' and say that Tiberius built it to mark the place where Pilate's country house stood.”