Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Praecinctio

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

PRAECINC'TIO (διάζωμα). A wide landing place, or lobby, in the interior of a theatre and amphitheatre, running all round the circle of the cavea at the top of each maenianum, or tier of seats (Vitruv. v. 3. 4. Compare ii. 8. 11.). The general design of these lobbies will be understood by referring to the plan of the theatre at Herculaneum introduced s. THEATRUM ROMANUM, a portion of which is shown in elevation by the woodcut annexed (Praecinctio/1.1), which contains the corresponding parts of three praecinctiones. Their use was to enable the spectator when he entered the theatre to reach his own seat without incommoding those who had arrived before him. If, for instance, he entered by the furthest of the small doors (vomitoria) in the illustration, whilst the number of his seat happened to be in the compartment (cavea) nearest to the reader, he walked round the praecinctio until he reached the nearer flight of stairs (scalae), which he descended until he came to the row of seats (gradus) where his place was numbered, thus having to pass only those few persons who might be sitting between the staircase and the stall belonging to him.

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  Praecinctio/1.1