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.