Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Chalcidicum

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

CHALCID'ICUM (Χαλκιδικόν). A large, low, and deep porch, covered with its own roof, supported on pilasters, and appended to the entrance front of a building, where it protects the principal doorway, and forms a grand entrance to the whole edifice (Becchi, del Calcidico e della Cripta di Eumachia, § 21 — 43.), in the manner represented by the following engraving (Chalcidicum/1.1), which represents a stucture of similar character, now remaining in front of the very ancient church of S. Giorgio in Velabro at Rome, believed to occupy the site of the original Basilica Semproniana in the Forum Boarium. Structures of this kind received their name from the city of Chalcis (Festus, s. v.), where, it may be presumed, they were first introduced, or of the most frequent occurrence; and they were added on to private as well as public edifices, not merely as an ornament to the façade, but for the purpose of affording shelter to persons whilst waiting on the outside for their turn to be admitted, or who transacted their business under them; to the palaces of kings and great personages (Hygin. Fab. 184. Auson. Perioch. Odyss. 23. Procop. de Aedific. Justin. i. 10.); to the basilicae, courts of justice, and merchants' changes (Vitruv. v. 1.), where they could serve to contain the articles of merchandize, the sale of which was negotiated in the interior; to the curia, the town-hall, and senate-house (Dion Cass. li. 22. August. Mon. Ancyran. ap. Grut. p 232. 4.), perhaps for the reception of the slaves awaiting their masters, and of the people naturally congregating about such places for curiosity or business. The external character and appearance of these appendages is sufficiently indicated by the preceding wood-cut; and their general plan, with reference to the rest of the edifice, by the next one (Chalcidicum/1.2), which represents the ground-plan of an extensive building at Pompeii, constructed by the priestess Eumachia, consisting of an enclosed gallery (crypta, A), an open one (porticus, B) adjoining, which encloses a courtyard or area (C) in the centre; the whole being covered by a grand entrance, fronting the forum, with the name CHALCIDICUM inscribed upon a slab of marble affixed to the wall.

• 
  Chalcidicum/1.1
• 
  Chalcidicum/1.2