DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47233#0089
■CHAP. IV.]
THE THEATRE.
73
The exact position of the lower διάζωμα cannot be determined with certainty, but we Position of the
have an indication which is too valuable to be disregarded. In the outer retaining wall at b traces of the
the east side of the auditorium, at the height of 23 feet 6 inches above the orchestra level, approaches to it.
we have discovered a white limestone slab, in situ, bearing marks of a doorway. It is
indicated in the plan by the word ‘cill.’ This doorway must have given access to the
upper tiers of seats by way of the lower cliazoma. The doorway must have been reached
from outside either by a staircase or by an incline, and have been connected with the end
of the διάζωμα by a passage in the space between the two retaining walls. In the corresponding
position at the west side, though we have found no doorway, the change of materials in the
inner retaining wall (see Chap. III.), occurring at a height of 25 feet above the orchestra,
implies the existence of a terrace or passage at this level. This passage was probably
connected, like the doorway at the east side, with the lower diazoma; the trifling difference
in level between the two being accounted for by a slight incline, or a couple of steps, at
some point between the doorway on the east side and the cliazoma. If we are right in inferring the
height of this diazoma above the orchestra to have been 25 feet, its distance from the
orchestra must have been 50 feet, since the slope of the lower seats is known to have been
one in two. And the result of this calculation is eminently satisfactory ; for, supposing it to be
correct, it follows that the auditorium was divided into three sections of almost exactly equal
width; the first diazoma occurring at a distance of 50 feet from the outer edge of the
orchestra, the second diazoma at a distance of 100 feet, and the top of the auditorium at
a distance of 150 feet. But it must be remembered that all these figures are approximate ; for
in the case of the summit of the auditorium and in that of the upper diazoma, the entire
structure having perished, we have only the configuration of the ground to judge by, while in
the case of the lower διάζωμα, we are dependent on the evidence supplied by the scanty traces
which remain of the approaches leading to it on either side. Nevertheless, in none of the three
cases can the figures given err by more than a few feet; and the general symmetry with
which both the Theatre and the other buildings at Megalopolis have been laid out, adds to the
probability of horizontally equal divisions in the auditorium. This probability will appear still
greater when we mention that the radius of the orchestra measures approximately 50 feet—the
very measurement which we have assigned to each of the three sections of the auditorium.22
For examples of separate entrances to the upper tiers of seats in Greek theatres we Comparison^ with
may compare the Theatre of Dionysus at Athens, where it is thought that an entrance opened
on the west end of the διάζωμα;23 and the Theatre at Epidaurus, where separate entrances
existed at both ends.24 At Mantinea the upper tiers of seats were reached by a separate
staircase at each end of the auditorium, and also by two staircases in the semi-circular
retaining wall at the back. 25 In Roman theatres, separate entrances were the general rule;
only they were approached by staircases, not placed outside, but taken through the wings of the
stage-buildings, which abutted immediately on the auditorium, or through the substructure of
the auditorium itself.
(c) Ordinary Seats.—A good idea of the ordinary seats may be obtained from the
illustrations given in Fig. 24. Their general form is similar to that of the corresponding seats
at Athens, Piraeus, Epidaurus; but their structure is different. Each seat at Megalopolis; consists
of two parts, viz. (1) the limestone bench on which the spectator sat; (2) a plain slab of
limestone or conglomerate supporting this bench and projecting beyond it so as to form
a footboard. In the other theatres mentioned each seat, with the footboard of the one
behind it, is cut out of a single block.
The average height of the seats is from 15 inches to 16 inches; but, since the top
of each seat projects slightly above the footboard of the seat behind, the rise from seat to seat
is only about 14j inches. The breadth of seat and footboard combined is about 29 inches.25a
(c) Ordinary
Seats.—Their
form
and dimensions.
22 See Appendix D. The restoration here suggested
does not correspond exactly with the conjectural restora-
tion given by Mr. Schultz in Fig. 27.
23 Baumeister, Denkmdler, p. 1737 (plan). In Haigh’s
copy of this plan (Attic Theatre, p. 112), the walls which
bound this entrance are indicated by the letters ‘cd.’
24 Τίρακτικά, 1883, p. 46 and Pl. I. (In the plan first
published, Πρακτικά 1881, Pl. II., this is not shown. The
upper part of the auditorium is there restored, con-
jecturally, exactly like the lower.)
25 Bulletin de Corr. Hellen., xiv. p. 250, and Pl. XVII.
25a See Fig. 24, Chap. III., where the net height is given
as 14 inches, and the net width as 28 inches.
U
THE THEATRE.
73
The exact position of the lower διάζωμα cannot be determined with certainty, but we Position of the
have an indication which is too valuable to be disregarded. In the outer retaining wall at b traces of the
the east side of the auditorium, at the height of 23 feet 6 inches above the orchestra level, approaches to it.
we have discovered a white limestone slab, in situ, bearing marks of a doorway. It is
indicated in the plan by the word ‘cill.’ This doorway must have given access to the
upper tiers of seats by way of the lower cliazoma. The doorway must have been reached
from outside either by a staircase or by an incline, and have been connected with the end
of the διάζωμα by a passage in the space between the two retaining walls. In the corresponding
position at the west side, though we have found no doorway, the change of materials in the
inner retaining wall (see Chap. III.), occurring at a height of 25 feet above the orchestra,
implies the existence of a terrace or passage at this level. This passage was probably
connected, like the doorway at the east side, with the lower diazoma; the trifling difference
in level between the two being accounted for by a slight incline, or a couple of steps, at
some point between the doorway on the east side and the cliazoma. If we are right in inferring the
height of this diazoma above the orchestra to have been 25 feet, its distance from the
orchestra must have been 50 feet, since the slope of the lower seats is known to have been
one in two. And the result of this calculation is eminently satisfactory ; for, supposing it to be
correct, it follows that the auditorium was divided into three sections of almost exactly equal
width; the first diazoma occurring at a distance of 50 feet from the outer edge of the
orchestra, the second diazoma at a distance of 100 feet, and the top of the auditorium at
a distance of 150 feet. But it must be remembered that all these figures are approximate ; for
in the case of the summit of the auditorium and in that of the upper diazoma, the entire
structure having perished, we have only the configuration of the ground to judge by, while in
the case of the lower διάζωμα, we are dependent on the evidence supplied by the scanty traces
which remain of the approaches leading to it on either side. Nevertheless, in none of the three
cases can the figures given err by more than a few feet; and the general symmetry with
which both the Theatre and the other buildings at Megalopolis have been laid out, adds to the
probability of horizontally equal divisions in the auditorium. This probability will appear still
greater when we mention that the radius of the orchestra measures approximately 50 feet—the
very measurement which we have assigned to each of the three sections of the auditorium.22
For examples of separate entrances to the upper tiers of seats in Greek theatres we Comparison^ with
may compare the Theatre of Dionysus at Athens, where it is thought that an entrance opened
on the west end of the διάζωμα;23 and the Theatre at Epidaurus, where separate entrances
existed at both ends.24 At Mantinea the upper tiers of seats were reached by a separate
staircase at each end of the auditorium, and also by two staircases in the semi-circular
retaining wall at the back. 25 In Roman theatres, separate entrances were the general rule;
only they were approached by staircases, not placed outside, but taken through the wings of the
stage-buildings, which abutted immediately on the auditorium, or through the substructure of
the auditorium itself.
(c) Ordinary Seats.—A good idea of the ordinary seats may be obtained from the
illustrations given in Fig. 24. Their general form is similar to that of the corresponding seats
at Athens, Piraeus, Epidaurus; but their structure is different. Each seat at Megalopolis; consists
of two parts, viz. (1) the limestone bench on which the spectator sat; (2) a plain slab of
limestone or conglomerate supporting this bench and projecting beyond it so as to form
a footboard. In the other theatres mentioned each seat, with the footboard of the one
behind it, is cut out of a single block.
The average height of the seats is from 15 inches to 16 inches; but, since the top
of each seat projects slightly above the footboard of the seat behind, the rise from seat to seat
is only about 14j inches. The breadth of seat and footboard combined is about 29 inches.25a
(c) Ordinary
Seats.—Their
form
and dimensions.
22 See Appendix D. The restoration here suggested
does not correspond exactly with the conjectural restora-
tion given by Mr. Schultz in Fig. 27.
23 Baumeister, Denkmdler, p. 1737 (plan). In Haigh’s
copy of this plan (Attic Theatre, p. 112), the walls which
bound this entrance are indicated by the letters ‘cd.’
24 Τίρακτικά, 1883, p. 46 and Pl. I. (In the plan first
published, Πρακτικά 1881, Pl. II., this is not shown. The
upper part of the auditorium is there restored, con-
jecturally, exactly like the lower.)
25 Bulletin de Corr. Hellen., xiv. p. 250, and Pl. XVII.
25a See Fig. 24, Chap. III., where the net height is given
as 14 inches, and the net width as 28 inches.
U