Papers of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens (1.1882-1883)

THE THEATRE OF DIONYSUS.

147

Such are the chief characteristics of the exterior of the kolXov.
Within the enclosed space the spectators' seats, now largely destroyed,
were constructed up to the very foot of the rock of the Acropolis.
They were of hewn Piraic stone, and were, for the most part, imbedded
in the earth, though in the upper part of the koiXov there are traces
of conglomerate-stone foundations. This system of seats was divided
into 13 KepKiSes (cunei), wedges, by 14 k\l[jlo.kcs, or flights of steps,
which are 0.70 m. in breadth, the two outer flights leading up close
against the walls of the Trdpo&oi. The axis of the theatre does not
pass through a k\2fia$ dividing the kolXov into halves,—an arrange-
ment frequently found in Greek theatres, — but through the middle of
the central Kep/as. There is no trace of a Sux^w/m (praecinctio}, or
concentric passage, dividing the seats ; but the way which led through
the theatre obliquely from the point 0 on the east side, and had its
exit into the Asklepieion between walls / and m on the west side,
may have served the purpose of a more regular passage, and also
have afforded an entrance to the theatre from above.

The lowest step, along the outer edge of which the balustrade of
the orchestra runs, has the depth of two slabs of stone. It is slightly
inclined toward the orchestra, that water may not collect upon it.
Toward the ends it is 3 m. in depth, but in the middle only 2 m. :
a result of tins is, that the row of marble chairs which follows the
inner edge of the step is not concentric with the balustrade which
follows the outer edge of the step. These chairs are a striking feature
of the theatre, and I shall discuss them specially in Part III.

Just behind the marble chairs is a second step, which served as
a sort of passage-way; it varies in width from 0.S5 to 0.S7 m. At
the back of this is a narrow step,* which served as the foot-rest for
those who sat upon the third step above. With this third step, the
rows of ordinary seats begin. The rectangular holes which occur at
regular intervals in the passage-way behind the marble chairs and in
the lowest row of ordinary seats, are worthy of notice. They were
probably cut to receive poles which supported an awning of some
kind. The ordinary seats are about 0.32 m. high, and 0.S5 m. in
depth. Their surface is divided into three parts : (1) the seat proper,
(2) a depression made to receive the feet of the person who sat on
the seat above, and (3), at the back, a narrow edge of the same level

* This foot-rest is not reckoned as a step in numbering the rows of seats.