wide and thick ; it is cut out in the middle for a length of two feet and two
palms, a width of two feet, and a depth of three palms and two digits, and is
open in front ; the higher part of it is at the back, and the wide part lies flat
in the block. In the middle of it is placed a bronze saddle. Its base
is a palm and two digits wide, and is planted between two masses of
lead, and extends under them to a depth of a palm on both sides.
The whole saddle is three palms and two digits wide, a foot long, and
8This is, no doubt, a reference to Pliny's statement (xxxiu, 35) regarding litharge
at Puteoli. This passage from Pliny is given in the footnote on p. 466. Puteoli was situated on
the Bay of Naples.
