DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.785#0309
chap, xin.] THE THEATRE. 207
picturesque effect of the ruins. The passage must have
been a means of communication for the actors behind the
scenes, and in two parts it widens into a chamber—the
parascenion of the Greek theatre—for their convenience
in changing costumes. Within the theatre all is ruin—
a chaos of fallen masonry, shapeless masses of rock
and red brick-work, overgrown with weeds and moss—
the orchestra filled up to the level of the stage—not a
seat of the cavea remaining, and that part of the
theatre is only to be distinguished by the semicircle of
arches which inclosed it. These are of regular and
most massive masonry, of a hard grey tufo whitened by
lichen—a whiteness quite dazzling in the sunshine. The
semicircle which they originally formed is not complete.
Commencing with the first arch at the south-western angle
of the arc, there are eleven in an unbroken series; then
occurs a gap, where one has been destroyed; then follow
nine more in succession; and six or seven are wanting to
complete the semicircle. Attached to the first is another,
at an angle with it, indicating the line of the chord of the
arc, the division between the cavea and the proscenium;
and its distance from the walls of the scena shows the
depth of the stage. These arches are beautifully formed,
the blocks shaped with uniformity, and fitted with
great nicety, though without cement.10 Cav. Canina, the
Roman architect, regards them as an interior structure
only, and thinks there was an outer range of arches for
the external adornment, as in the theatre of Pompeii, and
of Marcellus at Rome. He says that, from its excellent
10 These arches vary from 7J ft. to 9 arch on either side. The length of the
ft. in span. They are based on pillars chord of the arc, or the greatest width
about 3 ft. square, each a single block of of the theatre, according to my measure-
stone, supporting a simple lip-impost, ment, is exactly 200 English feet. The
also a single block; as is likewise the depth of the stage I make 33 feet.
mass raised on it,from which springs the
picturesque effect of the ruins. The passage must have
been a means of communication for the actors behind the
scenes, and in two parts it widens into a chamber—the
parascenion of the Greek theatre—for their convenience
in changing costumes. Within the theatre all is ruin—
a chaos of fallen masonry, shapeless masses of rock
and red brick-work, overgrown with weeds and moss—
the orchestra filled up to the level of the stage—not a
seat of the cavea remaining, and that part of the
theatre is only to be distinguished by the semicircle of
arches which inclosed it. These are of regular and
most massive masonry, of a hard grey tufo whitened by
lichen—a whiteness quite dazzling in the sunshine. The
semicircle which they originally formed is not complete.
Commencing with the first arch at the south-western angle
of the arc, there are eleven in an unbroken series; then
occurs a gap, where one has been destroyed; then follow
nine more in succession; and six or seven are wanting to
complete the semicircle. Attached to the first is another,
at an angle with it, indicating the line of the chord of the
arc, the division between the cavea and the proscenium;
and its distance from the walls of the scena shows the
depth of the stage. These arches are beautifully formed,
the blocks shaped with uniformity, and fitted with
great nicety, though without cement.10 Cav. Canina, the
Roman architect, regards them as an interior structure
only, and thinks there was an outer range of arches for
the external adornment, as in the theatre of Pompeii, and
of Marcellus at Rome. He says that, from its excellent
10 These arches vary from 7J ft. to 9 arch on either side. The length of the
ft. in span. They are based on pillars chord of the arc, or the greatest width
about 3 ft. square, each a single block of of the theatre, according to my measure-
stone, supporting a simple lip-impost, ment, is exactly 200 English feet. The
also a single block; as is likewise the depth of the stage I make 33 feet.
mass raised on it,from which springs the