DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.749#0081
122
INVESTIGATIONS AT ASSOS
0
1 m.
Fig. i. Detail of Proscenium
THE Theatre at Assos, described by previous travel-
lers as being in almost perfect preservation, was found
to be much ruined. At first sight, little was visible
but a hollow in the steep hillside. Probably many of the
blocks had been removed by the Turks, in 1864, as de-
scribed by Mr. Abbot (see page 5). Prokesch von Osten, in
a letter dated Mitylene, July 6th, 1826,* 1 in describing the
ruins of Assos, gave an account of the Theatre, which it is in-
teresting to compare with what was actually found by our ex-
pedition. His description is as follows : —1
“ Further down the slope is the Theatre, one of the best preserved
in Asia Minor. As it has not yet been measured by any traveller, I
will give here the dimensions. It is cut into the side of the mountain,
with a magnificent view looking over the sea, towards Lesbos, Adra-
myttion and the coast of Pergamon. Forty rows of seats are standing
in position above each other and a portion of the scene is still visible.
The building is Roman and differs from most of the theatres of Asia
Minor, for example, Pergamon, Patara, Myra, Hierapolis, etc., in that
the ends of the cavea are parallel to the scene, which is according to
the construction given by Vitruvius.
The orchestra is more than a half-circle. The seats extend on both
sides in six rows, beyond the range of the scene. They are in section
15" high, although some are 15ZZ2ZZZ, others 16", and some, for example
the sixteenth row, measures They are rounded under in front,
to a depth of 4ZZ6ZZZ. The seating surface is i8zz broad. In the left
side of the cavea a vaulted entrance (vomitorium) is visible. On this
side, at the level of the thirty-fourth seat, leaning against the outer
wall of the cavea, is the corner block of a cornice which appears to
have crowned the curved rear wall of the cavea. Furthermore, in the
centre are six additional seats, cut in the ledge rock with traces of
still others. The thirty-four seats below are of granite and are partly
displaced as if by earthquakes. The greater part, however, are still in
their original position. In the middle of the cavea there is a staircase,
3izz 6ZZZ broad.
1 Denkwiirdigkeiten und Erinnerungen aus dem Orient. Von Ritter Prokesch
von Osten. Stuttgart, 1836.
Except this there is nowhere in the wedge any division by
steps, nor is any diazoma visible. The outer wall of the cavea has
still eighteen courses of granite blocks in position, laid without mortar,
each about 14", which gives a total height of 22 ft.
The scene shows many irregularities in its side walls, whereof the
left plainly is broken back, while the right shows a straight line at
right angles to the cavea. At the left a broad staircase appears to
have stood immediately leaning against the orchestra.
The side and rear walls of the scene are standing only a few feet
above the earth. The pulpitum of the orchestra shows still a height
of 5' 3", and by some pillars and the tops of the centre door-opening
this could not have been higher. The entire site of the theatre is cov-
ered with large building blocks, fragments of fluted columns and tri-
glyphs, that appear to have been thrown down from above.”
The funds of the expedition not permitting a thorough
clearing of the site, prospecting trenches were dug in various
parts of the auditorium. The foundations of the scene were
excavated, and here the earth had accumulated to a depth of
more than two meters, the space having been used during the
middle ages for dwellings, as was evident from the remains
of household fires, bones, broken pottery. A stone balus-
trade separated the orchestra from the spectators. No trace of a
pavement was found in the orchestra, and it was probably, like
most Greek theatres, left unpaved. The seats and orchestra
balustrade were all of Acropolis stone. The foundations of the
proscenium were uncovered and the position of the columns
that had supported the stage was plainly shown by the dowel
holes and by the weathering of the exposed surface; all had
been dowelled carefully to the stylobate (page 125). These
columns were of white marble, and several fragments of them
were found as well as of the little Doric entablature. The
height of the stage was just under three meters, thus according
with the statement by Vitruvius, Book V, chap. 8 :
“The Greeks have a larger orchestra and their scene is further
recessed. The pulpitum, which they call Xoyeiop, is less in width :
wherefore among them the tragic and comic performers act upon the
scene; the rest going through their parts in the orchestra. Hence
the performers are distinguished by the names of Scenici and Thyme-
lici. The height of the pulpitum is not less than ten feet, nor more
than twelve.”
In the centre opening of the proscenium were cuts on
the threshold indicating the manner in which it was closed
by a wooden door (Fig. 2). Between all the other columns
were single slots cut in the stone, in which were fixed the
wooden shutter-boards or pinakes, which formed a screen
or background for the chorus in the orchestra. The scene
=Ci.
O
1 m.
Fig. 2. Plan of Centre Opening of Proscenium
Showing Arrangement of Wooden Door
consisted of three chambers connected by doors; the walls
were of dressed masonry, clamped and dowelled and laid with-
out mortar. The walls shown in lighter shading at each end
of the scene, page 123, seemed to be of later date. Puchstein 2
2 Die Griechische Bilhne. Von Otto Puchstein. Berlin, 1901.
INVESTIGATIONS AT ASSOS
0
1 m.
Fig. i. Detail of Proscenium
THE Theatre at Assos, described by previous travel-
lers as being in almost perfect preservation, was found
to be much ruined. At first sight, little was visible
but a hollow in the steep hillside. Probably many of the
blocks had been removed by the Turks, in 1864, as de-
scribed by Mr. Abbot (see page 5). Prokesch von Osten, in
a letter dated Mitylene, July 6th, 1826,* 1 in describing the
ruins of Assos, gave an account of the Theatre, which it is in-
teresting to compare with what was actually found by our ex-
pedition. His description is as follows : —1
“ Further down the slope is the Theatre, one of the best preserved
in Asia Minor. As it has not yet been measured by any traveller, I
will give here the dimensions. It is cut into the side of the mountain,
with a magnificent view looking over the sea, towards Lesbos, Adra-
myttion and the coast of Pergamon. Forty rows of seats are standing
in position above each other and a portion of the scene is still visible.
The building is Roman and differs from most of the theatres of Asia
Minor, for example, Pergamon, Patara, Myra, Hierapolis, etc., in that
the ends of the cavea are parallel to the scene, which is according to
the construction given by Vitruvius.
The orchestra is more than a half-circle. The seats extend on both
sides in six rows, beyond the range of the scene. They are in section
15" high, although some are 15ZZ2ZZZ, others 16", and some, for example
the sixteenth row, measures They are rounded under in front,
to a depth of 4ZZ6ZZZ. The seating surface is i8zz broad. In the left
side of the cavea a vaulted entrance (vomitorium) is visible. On this
side, at the level of the thirty-fourth seat, leaning against the outer
wall of the cavea, is the corner block of a cornice which appears to
have crowned the curved rear wall of the cavea. Furthermore, in the
centre are six additional seats, cut in the ledge rock with traces of
still others. The thirty-four seats below are of granite and are partly
displaced as if by earthquakes. The greater part, however, are still in
their original position. In the middle of the cavea there is a staircase,
3izz 6ZZZ broad.
1 Denkwiirdigkeiten und Erinnerungen aus dem Orient. Von Ritter Prokesch
von Osten. Stuttgart, 1836.
Except this there is nowhere in the wedge any division by
steps, nor is any diazoma visible. The outer wall of the cavea has
still eighteen courses of granite blocks in position, laid without mortar,
each about 14", which gives a total height of 22 ft.
The scene shows many irregularities in its side walls, whereof the
left plainly is broken back, while the right shows a straight line at
right angles to the cavea. At the left a broad staircase appears to
have stood immediately leaning against the orchestra.
The side and rear walls of the scene are standing only a few feet
above the earth. The pulpitum of the orchestra shows still a height
of 5' 3", and by some pillars and the tops of the centre door-opening
this could not have been higher. The entire site of the theatre is cov-
ered with large building blocks, fragments of fluted columns and tri-
glyphs, that appear to have been thrown down from above.”
The funds of the expedition not permitting a thorough
clearing of the site, prospecting trenches were dug in various
parts of the auditorium. The foundations of the scene were
excavated, and here the earth had accumulated to a depth of
more than two meters, the space having been used during the
middle ages for dwellings, as was evident from the remains
of household fires, bones, broken pottery. A stone balus-
trade separated the orchestra from the spectators. No trace of a
pavement was found in the orchestra, and it was probably, like
most Greek theatres, left unpaved. The seats and orchestra
balustrade were all of Acropolis stone. The foundations of the
proscenium were uncovered and the position of the columns
that had supported the stage was plainly shown by the dowel
holes and by the weathering of the exposed surface; all had
been dowelled carefully to the stylobate (page 125). These
columns were of white marble, and several fragments of them
were found as well as of the little Doric entablature. The
height of the stage was just under three meters, thus according
with the statement by Vitruvius, Book V, chap. 8 :
“The Greeks have a larger orchestra and their scene is further
recessed. The pulpitum, which they call Xoyeiop, is less in width :
wherefore among them the tragic and comic performers act upon the
scene; the rest going through their parts in the orchestra. Hence
the performers are distinguished by the names of Scenici and Thyme-
lici. The height of the pulpitum is not less than ten feet, nor more
than twelve.”
In the centre opening of the proscenium were cuts on
the threshold indicating the manner in which it was closed
by a wooden door (Fig. 2). Between all the other columns
were single slots cut in the stone, in which were fixed the
wooden shutter-boards or pinakes, which formed a screen
or background for the chorus in the orchestra. The scene
=Ci.
O
1 m.
Fig. 2. Plan of Centre Opening of Proscenium
Showing Arrangement of Wooden Door
consisted of three chambers connected by doors; the walls
were of dressed masonry, clamped and dowelled and laid with-
out mortar. The walls shown in lighter shading at each end
of the scene, page 123, seemed to be of later date. Puchstein 2
2 Die Griechische Bilhne. Von Otto Puchstein. Berlin, 1901.