1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:04,000 Abandonment of the Cruciform Room 1b 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:09,060 To abandon a unit that was as complex and important for the smooth operation of shows, 2 00:00:09,060 --> 00:00:13,360 there must have been a problem in terms of how it was functioning. 3 00:00:13,360 --> 00:00:19,460 We can still see the issue today since we are fortunate to be able to enter it. 4 00:00:19,460 --> 00:00:25,760 In fact, the entire unit is plagued by problems linked to water management. 5 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:33,460 On the one hand, from below--the floor of the underground rooms is very close 6 00:00:33,460 --> 00:00:37,360 to the level of the water table under the amphitheater. 7 00:00:37,360 --> 00:00:40,960 In winter, when the water table is the highest, 8 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:43,890 water seeps into the underground rooms. 9 00:00:43,890 --> 00:00:47,869 As soon as the water floods these areas 10 00:00:47,869 --> 00:00:53,789 we can imagine that this must have negatively affected the operations of this unit. 11 00:00:53,789 --> 00:00:58,920 On the other hand, we must also reason from above: 12 00:00:58,920 --> 00:01:02,460 given that the unit was built at a later date, 13 00:01:02,460 --> 00:01:04,740 after the construction of the amphitheater, 14 00:01:04,740 --> 00:01:10,300 the entire rainwater harvesting system had to be redesigned. 15 00:01:10,300 --> 00:01:14,460 In particular, a drain pipe that went around the arena floor 16 00:01:14,460 --> 00:01:19,260 and collected a large amount of the rainwater that fell on the monument. 17 00:01:19,260 --> 00:01:24,760 Building these underground rooms disrupted that system. 18 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:30,360 It's highly likely--at least that's what is shown by the research conducted up until today-- 19 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:34,760 that, as a result, all the rainwater that used to flow into this drain 20 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:40,360 started flowing into the underground rooms. 21 00:01:40,360 --> 00:01:42,760 And that, if that's truly the case, 22 00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:47,360 which we will have to demonstrate through additional research 23 00:01:47,360 --> 00:01:52,760 that must have completely disrupted the normal utilization of these underground rooms. 24 00:01:52,760 --> 00:01:54,660 Which explains why they were prematurely abandoned. 24b 00:01:55,200 --> 00:01:59,000 Restoration of the Cruciform Room 25 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:04,760 The restoration of this ensemble was decided on when the main discovery was made 26 00:02:04,760 --> 00:02:07,260 in the 1860s 27 00:02:07,260 --> 00:02:16,360 when a true excavation was undertaken to unearth this entire unit. 28 00:02:16,360 --> 00:02:20,659 It turns out that the walls you see are very well preserved 29 00:02:20,659 --> 00:02:25,100 almost up to the level of the arena floor. 30 00:02:25,100 --> 00:02:29,719 But their entire length was not preserved. 31 00:02:29,719 --> 00:02:35,589 They were interrupted in their extension 32 00:02:35,589 --> 00:02:38,560 for a reason that remains unknown today, 33 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:43,760 but which followed the definitive abandonment of this underground system. 34 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:46,760 That is, at a time when it was decided to block it off, 35 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,560 and therefore to fill it in. Before it was filled in, 36 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:55,199 as is often the case in this type of construction, already in antiquity, 37 00:02:55,199 --> 00:02:58,629 they most likely decided to salvage some of the materials 38 00:02:58,629 --> 00:03:01,460 so they could be reused. 39 00:03:01,460 --> 00:03:06,660 Only the two main arcades on the large and the small axes, 40 00:03:06,660 --> 00:03:11,760 which were preserved, have been restored. 41 00:03:11,760 --> 00:03:15,760 Which explains the shape of the room today in the form of a cross. 41b 00:03:16,300 --> 00:03:20,200 Inscriptions in the Cruciform Room 42 00:03:20,500 --> 00:03:24,260 Two inscriptions have been preserved in the Cruciform Room. 43 00:03:24,260 --> 00:03:28,820 They are identical, and read: 44 00:03:28,820 --> 00:03:32,669 T CRISPIUS REBURRUS FECIT, 45 00:03:32,669 --> 00:03:36,760 which means: Made by Titus Crispius Reburrus. 46 00:03:36,760 --> 00:03:42,760 We must interpret this inscription as if it were that of an important figure 47 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:48,060 who contributed definitely and in an important way 48 00:03:48,060 --> 00:03:50,339 to the construction of this ensemble. 49 00:03:50,339 --> 00:03:53,460 The question is to understand if this person contributed only 50 00:03:53,460 --> 00:03:58,930 to the construction and layout of the underground rooms or if he contributed or played a role 51 00:03:58,930 --> 00:04:00,919 in the construction of the entire amphitheater. 52 00:04:00,919 --> 00:04:03,160 Today, we are not sure. 53 00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:07,160 It may be the name of the architect, 54 00:04:07,219 --> 00:04:13,960 but it may also be the name of an important figure who financed or ordered the work to be completed. 55 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:17,660 Today, it's a subject that must still be elucidated. 56 00:04:17,660 --> 00:04:22,760 and we cannot go any further in our interpretation of the inscription.