DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4593#0281
THE SHRINES OF ATTICA 257
but nothing but the bases of these statues remain.
A long colonnade furnished a sheltered walk for
those who came to this sanitarium, and there are
traces of rooms which Dr. Dorpfeld regards as bath-
rooms— one for women and one for men—-men-
tioned in an inscription. Back of this colonnade
are the remains of a charming little Greek theatre.
Only a few seats of the auditorium arc preserved;
but the columns which made up the proscenium are
standing, except their capitals. The architrave for
the columns has been found, so that the height of
the structure can well be determined. An inscrip-
tion contains the word proskene. Behind these col-
umns can be seen the slots to receive the bolts or
bars by which pictures were fastened in between
them, except in the middle of the row, where the
space was used as a doorway for the actors. This
building is of much importance in supporting Dorp-
feld's theory of theatre construction, involving the
view that the actors played in the orchestra and not
on an elevated stage.
My approach to Rhamnus was also from the sea.
The old city wall may be followed up the hill, and
passing through an ancient gateway one sees the
terrace walls within. The lower circle of seats of a
primitive theatre are still preserved, and bear the
names of the ancient holders. Sections of old walls
made of small stones without mortar seem to be the
remains of dwelling-houses. But the most interest-
ing remains at Rhamnus are the ruins of its two
temples. They stand side by side on a great terrace,
and we can trace the wall which bounded the sacred
17
but nothing but the bases of these statues remain.
A long colonnade furnished a sheltered walk for
those who came to this sanitarium, and there are
traces of rooms which Dr. Dorpfeld regards as bath-
rooms— one for women and one for men—-men-
tioned in an inscription. Back of this colonnade
are the remains of a charming little Greek theatre.
Only a few seats of the auditorium arc preserved;
but the columns which made up the proscenium are
standing, except their capitals. The architrave for
the columns has been found, so that the height of
the structure can well be determined. An inscrip-
tion contains the word proskene. Behind these col-
umns can be seen the slots to receive the bolts or
bars by which pictures were fastened in between
them, except in the middle of the row, where the
space was used as a doorway for the actors. This
building is of much importance in supporting Dorp-
feld's theory of theatre construction, involving the
view that the actors played in the orchestra and not
on an elevated stage.
My approach to Rhamnus was also from the sea.
The old city wall may be followed up the hill, and
passing through an ancient gateway one sees the
terrace walls within. The lower circle of seats of a
primitive theatre are still preserved, and bear the
names of the ancient holders. Sections of old walls
made of small stones without mortar seem to be the
remains of dwelling-houses. But the most interest-
ing remains at Rhamnus are the ruins of its two
temples. They stand side by side on a great terrace,
and we can trace the wall which bounded the sacred
17