GALLIA ROMANA

Constans 1921, pp. 298-324 ; Keiser 1968 ; Gros 1991, pp. 49-50 ; Le Roy Ladurie 1995 ; Gros 1996, pp. 335-337 ; Le Roy Ladurie 2000 ; Lemerle 2005, p. 89 ; Rothé/Heijmans 2008, pp. 274-283

The passage in italics was added by Platter subsequently to the period in which the rest of the text was written (1604-1605)

« Unndt ist daßselbig amphitheatrum oder schauplatz auch in die oval runde wie daß zu Nismes gebauwen, aber viel kleiner, unndt von kleinen, gehauwenen kißling steinen. Liget in dem boden unndt ist in mitten vollen heüseren gebauwen, auch bey weitem nitt mehr so schön noch gantz wie daß zu Nismes. Man findet auch kein alte geschrift oder geschicht daran gegraben von seinem ursprung oder anfang. Es sindt auch in diesem (amphitheatro) schauwplatz ettliche grosse stein, 12 schu lang unndt 6 schu dick. Es hatt im umbzirck (in ambitu), 59 bögen unndt ettlliche thürn, vestibulum hatt underscheidliche sechs bogen, deren ye einer mehr als ein klafter vom anderen stehet. Under dem (amphitheatro) schauwplatz ist ein gewaltiger, schöner keller, deßgleichen in der statt nitt zefinden.[...] [86] Man schreibet, daß die Phocenses, Griechen, dise statt sollen gebauwen haben. Daß aber die Römer auch sie gar hoch gehalten haben, bezeüget daß obgemeldet amphitheatrum, deßen kunstliche architectur unndt viele der steinen so alt unndt zierlich, daß nitt baldt ettwaß ihme vorgezogen mag werden. »
= “This amphitheatre or entertainment venue has an oval form, similar to the one at Nimes, though much smaller, and it is paved with small stones. It is somewhat sunk into the ground and, in its central space, many houses have been built; consequently, it is not so beautiful, nor so intact as the amphitheatre at Nimes. It contains no inscriptions or engravings that offer information about its origins. There is also in this entertainment venue (amphitheatre) quite a lot of large stones, 12 feet long and 6 feet thick. The external wall (which surrounds it) comprises 59 arches and several towers; the vestibule has six different types of arch, with intervals of more than a fathom between them. Beneath the entertainment venue (amphitheatre) is a vast and handsome cellar, the like of which cannot be found elsewhere in the town […] Certain authors say that the Phocaeans, that is to say the Greeks, founded the town. But that the Romans did much to embellish it is clear from the above mentioned amphitheatre, with its artistic structure and its ancient stones full of grace – something which seems to me altogether incomparable.”