DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4593#0165
144 THE ISLES AND SHRINES OF GREECE
searches combine to prove that acting in the Greek
theatre was done within the circle of the orchestra,
as in the ancient days of the dance.
The generally accepted theory that the Greeks used
a stage was founded not upon the buildings them-
selves, whose evidence the spade has but lately brought
to light, but almost entirely upon the statement of
Vitruvius, a Roman architect, who wrote just before
the beginning of the Christian era. In an account of
the Greek theatre he described a stage which he said
must not be less than ten nor more than twelve feet
high, adding that " on thispulpitum which the Greeks
called logeion the actors performed, while the chorus
acted in the orchestra."
It is interesting to note that the accuracy of this
statement of Vitruvius was impeached almost simul-
taneously from two sides, — from a study of the plays,
and from a study of the theatres where they were
given. In 1884 Dr. Julius Hopken wrote a thesis
on the Attic theatre in which he combated the
view of Vitruvius that the actors were on a high
stage. He maintained that both actors and chorus
played in the orchestra, but assumed a low wooden
platform. Meanwhile Dr. Dorpfeld had been greatly
perplexed in his excavations of Greek theatres to find
in them no trace of a stage. He did find in nearly
every one some indication of a proscenium, which
is assumed by Haigh1 to be the supporting wall of
the stage itself. Dorpfeld, judging solely from the
stones themselves, could see in this proscenium only
the decorated wall, with a central door in front of the
actors' room.
1 " The Attic Theatre," by Arthur E. Haigh.
searches combine to prove that acting in the Greek
theatre was done within the circle of the orchestra,
as in the ancient days of the dance.
The generally accepted theory that the Greeks used
a stage was founded not upon the buildings them-
selves, whose evidence the spade has but lately brought
to light, but almost entirely upon the statement of
Vitruvius, a Roman architect, who wrote just before
the beginning of the Christian era. In an account of
the Greek theatre he described a stage which he said
must not be less than ten nor more than twelve feet
high, adding that " on thispulpitum which the Greeks
called logeion the actors performed, while the chorus
acted in the orchestra."
It is interesting to note that the accuracy of this
statement of Vitruvius was impeached almost simul-
taneously from two sides, — from a study of the plays,
and from a study of the theatres where they were
given. In 1884 Dr. Julius Hopken wrote a thesis
on the Attic theatre in which he combated the
view of Vitruvius that the actors were on a high
stage. He maintained that both actors and chorus
played in the orchestra, but assumed a low wooden
platform. Meanwhile Dr. Dorpfeld had been greatly
perplexed in his excavations of Greek theatres to find
in them no trace of a stage. He did find in nearly
every one some indication of a proscenium, which
is assumed by Haigh1 to be the supporting wall of
the stage itself. Dorpfeld, judging solely from the
stones themselves, could see in this proscenium only
the decorated wall, with a central door in front of the
actors' room.
1 " The Attic Theatre," by Arthur E. Haigh.