DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47233#0055
CHAP. III.]
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS.
39
Above the remains of the lower tiers of seats, still in position, the curved form of the
auditorium is still distinctly to be discerned rising up behind (see Pl. II., Fig. 2 and
Pl. VIII.) and at a considerable height above the level of the orchestra (from 50 to 53 feet
above the foundation course of the later steps of the portico) a flattening in the slope, which
runs right round the curve, suggests the line of a wide passage way or diazoma. No
structural remains of this, however, have been found.
A pit dug across the present ridge at its highest point also failed to yield any
traces of a back wall or blocks of any description. It is possible that the auditorium may
have extended a little higher than this point, but it seems unlikely that it could have
reached much higher on account of the rapid slope downwards behind at the sides.
Curved form of
Auditorium
remains above
present seats.
Indication of line
of diazoma.
Original height of
Auditorium.
Fig. 26.—Section through Passage or Lower Diazo ma at Argos.
Presumably in a theatre of this size there were two diazomata. The lower one
would probably have been comparatively narrow, more in the form of a slightly wider
footway as at Argos (Fig. 26), and its position would hardly be observable by any perceptible
break in the line of the sloping bank to-day. The traces of an entrance in the east
retaining wall, which will be alluded to further on, seem to point to some through con-
nection at a point about half-way up between the level of the orchestra and that of the main
diazoma.
Presumably there
were two
diazomata.
1 give here (Fig. 27) a restored plan of the auditorium showing the presumed arrange-
ment of the seating and the diazomata, and also, to a larger scale, a section through the
same (Fig. 28) showing the present line of the ground both at the centre and through the
middle of the second wedge of seats on the west side; and on this is also drawn a restoration
of the seats and the diazomata, based on the evidence just alluded to. Twenty tiers of seats
are restored between the passage behind the benches and the lower diazoma, and twenty more
between this and the main diazoma; or, in each case, 21 including a row of benches in front
of each diazoma, making in all 42 clear tiers from the level of the passage to that of the
main diazoma. These tiers are calculated on the average measurement of those still in position
and have a rise of 1 foot 2 inches and a width of 2 feet 4 inches. After a very careful
examination I concluded that the figures which I quote here were as nearly correct as it was
possible to arrive at in the present condition of the seats and footstones, which are all more
or less loose and few if any of which are absolutely unmoved.
A table is here given, showing how these contrast with similar measurements in other
theatres :
Restored plan of
Auditorium.
Restored section.
Sizes of tiers of
seats.
Megalopolis
Argos
Epidaurus
Athens
width 2 ft.
„ 2 „
„ 2 ,,
4 inches, rise
5?
1 ft. 2 inches
1
2
1
2
1
„ 1
Table of sizes of
seats in other
theatres.
The lower diazoma is drawn 5 feet 6 inches wide over all, on the calculation that the Lower diazoma.
front of it would have been used as a seat, thus giving a net width, for the actual passage
way, of from 3 feet 6 inches to 4 feet.
ARCHITECTURAL DESCRIPTION AND ANALYSIS.
39
Above the remains of the lower tiers of seats, still in position, the curved form of the
auditorium is still distinctly to be discerned rising up behind (see Pl. II., Fig. 2 and
Pl. VIII.) and at a considerable height above the level of the orchestra (from 50 to 53 feet
above the foundation course of the later steps of the portico) a flattening in the slope, which
runs right round the curve, suggests the line of a wide passage way or diazoma. No
structural remains of this, however, have been found.
A pit dug across the present ridge at its highest point also failed to yield any
traces of a back wall or blocks of any description. It is possible that the auditorium may
have extended a little higher than this point, but it seems unlikely that it could have
reached much higher on account of the rapid slope downwards behind at the sides.
Curved form of
Auditorium
remains above
present seats.
Indication of line
of diazoma.
Original height of
Auditorium.
Fig. 26.—Section through Passage or Lower Diazo ma at Argos.
Presumably in a theatre of this size there were two diazomata. The lower one
would probably have been comparatively narrow, more in the form of a slightly wider
footway as at Argos (Fig. 26), and its position would hardly be observable by any perceptible
break in the line of the sloping bank to-day. The traces of an entrance in the east
retaining wall, which will be alluded to further on, seem to point to some through con-
nection at a point about half-way up between the level of the orchestra and that of the main
diazoma.
Presumably there
were two
diazomata.
1 give here (Fig. 27) a restored plan of the auditorium showing the presumed arrange-
ment of the seating and the diazomata, and also, to a larger scale, a section through the
same (Fig. 28) showing the present line of the ground both at the centre and through the
middle of the second wedge of seats on the west side; and on this is also drawn a restoration
of the seats and the diazomata, based on the evidence just alluded to. Twenty tiers of seats
are restored between the passage behind the benches and the lower diazoma, and twenty more
between this and the main diazoma; or, in each case, 21 including a row of benches in front
of each diazoma, making in all 42 clear tiers from the level of the passage to that of the
main diazoma. These tiers are calculated on the average measurement of those still in position
and have a rise of 1 foot 2 inches and a width of 2 feet 4 inches. After a very careful
examination I concluded that the figures which I quote here were as nearly correct as it was
possible to arrive at in the present condition of the seats and footstones, which are all more
or less loose and few if any of which are absolutely unmoved.
A table is here given, showing how these contrast with similar measurements in other
theatres :
Restored plan of
Auditorium.
Restored section.
Sizes of tiers of
seats.
Megalopolis
Argos
Epidaurus
Athens
width 2 ft.
„ 2 „
„ 2 ,,
4 inches, rise
5?
1 ft. 2 inches
1
2
1
2
1
„ 1
Table of sizes of
seats in other
theatres.
The lower diazoma is drawn 5 feet 6 inches wide over all, on the calculation that the Lower diazoma.
front of it would have been used as a seat, thus giving a net width, for the actual passage
way, of from 3 feet 6 inches to 4 feet.