DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.796#0314
268
THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS
enclosing wall, the lower one dividing the body of seats into
two zones, a lower zone having 20 rows and an upper zone
having 13, the whole capable of seating about 5000 spectators
(175). Flights of steps cut into the rock and running
transversely up from the orchestra divide the seats into wedge-
shaped sections (cunei), the lower zone into five, the upper zone
Fig.-116.—The Theatre of Herodes Atticus. Auditorium and Orchestra.
into ten sections. The rows of seats were faced at their ends
or in profile with slabs of marble, and the seats were covered
with Pentelic marble blocks, many of which are still seen in situ.
Each row of benches shows a finely worked front with a
depression behind it, by which the occupants of the row above
could pass to their seats without disturbing those who sat in
the next row below or treading on their garments as they
passed by. The front row, in which the dignitaries sat,
was provided with backs and at the end with arms which
were finished off at the bottom to resemble lion's claws. The
orchestra, measuring about 18.80 metres (62 ft.) in breadth is
a trifle larger than a semi-circle, and is paved with square
THE ACROPOLIS OF ATHENS
enclosing wall, the lower one dividing the body of seats into
two zones, a lower zone having 20 rows and an upper zone
having 13, the whole capable of seating about 5000 spectators
(175). Flights of steps cut into the rock and running
transversely up from the orchestra divide the seats into wedge-
shaped sections (cunei), the lower zone into five, the upper zone
Fig.-116.—The Theatre of Herodes Atticus. Auditorium and Orchestra.
into ten sections. The rows of seats were faced at their ends
or in profile with slabs of marble, and the seats were covered
with Pentelic marble blocks, many of which are still seen in situ.
Each row of benches shows a finely worked front with a
depression behind it, by which the occupants of the row above
could pass to their seats without disturbing those who sat in
the next row below or treading on their garments as they
passed by. The front row, in which the dignitaries sat,
was provided with backs and at the end with arms which
were finished off at the bottom to resemble lion's claws. The
orchestra, measuring about 18.80 metres (62 ft.) in breadth is
a trifle larger than a semi-circle, and is paved with square