R Classica&Christiana _nr7_2_2012_curbe - Facultatea de Istorie ...

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Mariana BALACI CRÎNGUŞ, Cătălin BALACI
4.000 places, G. Szinte – 3.776, C. Daicoviciu – 5.000, G. Forni –
5.200, C. Opreanu – 3.700, J. Golvin – 5.831, D. Alicu – 5.373. Alicu
also proposed a media of 5.350 places to be used as a compromise
between all the existent opinions 16 .
We were compelled to use our method to establish the size of
the places at Ulpia so; we decided that the comparative method is the
best one. In our endeavour we have used a well documented study of
D. Bazard and J. L. Massy about the amphitheatre from Amiens 17 .
This amphitheatre at Amiens is erected in the first half of the Second
Century AD similarly with the one at Ulpia and here the mentioned
authors established that each place has 0,53 square meters 18 . If we do
the mathematic calculus (Amiens: 113 × 99 m, arena: 57 × 44 m; UTS:
85 × 70 m, arena 48 × 63 m) we obtain 5.520 places for amphitheatre
at Ulpia, a figure not far from the number proposed by D. Alicu noticeably.
So we decided to use for our needs the even figure of 5.500
places at the amphitheatre at Ulpia. Using the formula proposed by
G. Forni 19 (1 place for 2,5 inhabitants), we obtain the number of 13.750
inhabitants at Ulpia. Duncan-Jones proposed other formula 1 place for
3,5 inhabitants because he argued that G. Forni did not include in his
demonstration the slaves (to each family 3 to 5 slaves at least) 20 .
Using his formula we obtain 19.250 inhabitants at Ulpia.
At this point we have a small estimate figure (10562 inhabitants)
and a large one (19.250 inhabitants) so we are compelled to use another
means to try to establish a close match.
Analysis of the population at Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa
by other means
Firstly we will try to use another method proposed by Duncan-
Jones respectively the method which implies the public area size from a
Roman town. In some Roman towns public monuments occupy from
20-26% to 48% from the whole town area (the case of Thamugadi for
instance) 21 . I. Piso thinks that at Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa the size
16 Alicu 1997, 110.
17 Bayard, Massy 1984, 99.
18 Bayard, Massy 1984, 99.
19 Forni 1975, 111-113.
20 Duncan-Jones 1963, 87-88.
21 Piso 1995, 65.