GALLIA ROMANA

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

Notice

Ville Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône, 13)
Subject(s) Circus
 
Author(s) Porchier, François
  Trinitarian monk (17th century)
Resource type Manuscript
Date 1650
Inscription
References Porchier 910, p. 855
Bibliography Constans 1921, pp. 325-345 ; Lemerle 2005, p. 90
Remarks

The circus aedicule described by Gervase of Tilbury in the 13th century no longer existed in the 16th century; only the obelisk – three-quarters of which were buried – remained. The upper part of the monolith (approximately two-thirds of the entire obelisk) had been conserved in the suburb known as the 'Faubourg de la Roquette', where it was used as a bench in the square in front of the house originally occupied by the Ventabren family, which, in the author's time, had passed into the hands of the Porcellets. In 1675, the obelisk was erected in front of the town hall (located on the old market place)

Transcription 

« beaucoup d’auteurs estiment que le nom [d’Arles] derriue de ce large et ample autel, on en voit encores plusieurs belles et antiques restes, et particulierement d’une obelisque de pierre fort dure esgaré en deux ou trois pieces, dont la premiere de la longueur de six cannes, et de huict pieds en chasque fasse est à demy descouuerte dans un champ au bord du Rhosne à deux cens pas de la porte de la Roquette, au jardin de iean delhoste Apothicaire, appellé la Piramide, et la pointe d’enuiron deux cannes et demy sert de reposoir et de banc au deuant de la maison des Porcelletz, à present du sieur de sabatier. »