Page - 37 - in The Power of Urban Water - Studies in premodern urbanism

3 Fountains and theAncient City 37 Fig. 7:Sbeitla, Northern Fountain, planof theoriginal constructionpre- senting thehypo- thetical drawbasin. Twoporticoes frame the courtyard. vatoreSettis pointedout isunsuitable and incorrect, recalling theexistenceof rectangular exe- dras–werecertainlysuitable toaccommodatepassers-byforamomentof rest,but this function canhardlybeattributedto themwithcertainty:nospecificarrangement for theGreatNymphae- umof LepcisMagna,34 for instance,would support this assumption. On the other hand, foun- tains associatedwith a porticoweremore suitable to accommodate people, such as the hemi- cycle-fountainof Cuicul under thenorthernportico of theForumdesSévères35 or theNorthern FountainofSbeitla framedby twoporticoesdefiningacourtyard (Fig.7).36Moreover, theorien- tationof the fountaincouldhaveasignificanteffect, considering theshadowthatahigh façade could cast: the nymphaeum of Sbiba37 presented its façade to the north; the nymphaeum of Chemtou38openedtotheeast, theGreatNymphaeumofLepcisMagnatothewest.Nevertheless, it is difficult to conclude that therewas a deliberate choice for the placement of fountains, as theorientationsareverydiverseandthe technicalandurbanplanningconstraintswerealready verynumerousandessential. It isworthmentioning thaton theplatformof theLacusofTeren- tius inDouggaaprobable ‘game’wasengravedon the slabs, just as inSbeitlawhere therewas reported a ‘game of marbles’ on the pavement of the Northern Fountain,39 distractions that could be compared to those known at the Timgad forum:40 the esplanadewas thus willingly theplace for a relaxingmoment andnot just for passing. 34 Letzner 1999, 410f. no. 255;Ward-Perkins 1993, 79–87; Sandoz 2008; Lamare 2019, 343–346no.27. 35 Ballu 1921, 49;Aupert 1974, 95; Letzner 1999, 345no. 136;Kleinwächter 2001, 100f.; Lamare 2019, 321f. no. 14. 36 Cèbe 1957, 170pl.3; Lamare 2017. 37 Letzner 1999, 396no.232; Lamare 2019, 365–367no.40. 38 Aupert 1974, 93; Letzner 1999, 487no.396;Rakob 1993, 7–16; Lamare 2019, 361f. no.38. 39 Poinssot–Lantier 1922,p.CXVIIn.7.Theholesofamarblegame,according to theauthors,were locatedalong the entranceportico in the first intercolumniationon the left. 40 Boeswillwald et al. 1905, 19–21. 27 (thehopscotch). 29–31.