Chapter 12

As the citizens in general are to eat at public tables in certain companies, and it is necessary that the walls should have bulwarks and towers in proper places and at proper distances, it is evident that it will be very necessary to have some of these in the towers; let the buildings for this purpose be made the ornaments of the walls. As to temples for public worship, and the hall for the public tables of the chief magistrates, they ought to be built in proper places, and contiguous to each other, except those temples which the law or the oracle orders to be separate from all other buildings; and let these be in such a conspicuous eminence, that they may have every advantage of situation, and in the neighbourhood of that part of the city which is best fortified. Adjoining to this place there ought to be a large square, like that which they call in Thessaly The Square of Freedom, in which nothing is permitted to be bought or sold; into which no mechanic nor husbandman, nor any such person, should be permitted to enter, unless commanded by the magistrates. It will also be an ornament to this place if the gymnastic exercises of the elders are performed in it. It is also proper, that for performing these exercises the citizens should be divided into distinct classes, according to their ages, and that the young persons should have proper officers to be with them, and that the seniors should be with the magistrates; for having them before their eyes would greatly inspire true modesty and ingenuous fear. There ought to be another square [1331b] separate from this for buying and selling, which should be so situated as to be commodious for the reception of goods both by sea and land. As the citizens may be divided into magistrates and priests, it is proper that the public tables of the priests should be in buildings near the temples. Those of the magistrates who preside over contracts, indictments, and such-like, and also over the markets, and the public streets near the square, or some public way, I mean the square where things are bought and sold; for I intended the other for those who are at leisure, and this for necessary business. The same order which I have directed here should be observed also in the country; for there also their magistrates such as the surveyors of the woods and overseers of the grounds, must necessarily have their common tables and their towers, for the purpose of protection against an enemy. There ought also to be temples erected at proper places, both to the gods and the heroes; but it is unnecessary to dwell longer and most minutely on these particulars—for it is by no means difficult to plan these things, it is rather so to carry them into execution; for the theory is the child of our wishes, but the practical part must depend upon fortune; for which reason we shall decline saying anything farther upon these subjects.

Citizens are to eat in groups at public dining halls. The city walls must also have defensive structures and towers, properly placed and spaced. So some of these dining halls will clearly need to be in the towers. Let the buildings used for dining add beauty to the walls. Temples for public worship and the chief magistrates’ dining hall should stand in suitable places, next to one another. The exceptions are temples that the law or an oracle requires to stand apart from all other buildings. Let these buildings occupy a prominent height, with every advantage of location, near the city’s strongest fortifications. Beside this site there should be a large square, like the one in Thessaly called The Square of Freedom. Nothing may be bought or sold there. No artisan, farmer, or anyone of that kind should enter unless ordered to do so by the magistrates. The square will also be enhanced if the older citizens perform their physical exercises there. For these exercises, citizens should be divided into separate age groups. Young people should have suitable officers with them, while older citizens should be with the magistrates. Having the magistrates before their eyes would greatly encourage genuine modesty and a proper sense of respect. There should be another square [1331b], separate from the first, for buying and selling. Its location should make it convenient to receive goods by both sea and land. Since citizens may be divided into magistrates and priests, the priests’ public dining halls should be near the temples. Some magistrates oversee contracts, criminal charges, and similar matters, as well as markets and public streets. Their dining halls should be near the square or some public road. I mean the square where goods are bought and sold. I intended the other square for those with leisure, and this one for necessary business. The same arrangements I have prescribed here should also be followed in the countryside. Rural magistrates, such as forest inspectors and overseers of the land, must also have communal dining halls. They must also have towers for protection against an enemy. Temples to the gods and heroes should also be built in suitable places. But there is no need to discuss these details any further. Planning such things is not at all difficult. Putting them into practice is harder. Plans arise from our wishes, but carrying them out must depend on fortune. For this reason, we shall say nothing further on these subjects.