DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47233#0090
74
THE THEATRE.
[CHAP. IV.
Number of
‘ blocks ’ and of
staircases.
Thus the rise of the seats is just half of the amount which they recede, and the slope of the
auditorium, in its lower section, is (as previously stated) one in two. We have already given our
reasons for believing that the slope was steeper in the upper sections of the theatre.
The KepiciSes (‘blocks’) in the lowest section are nine in number, and the κΧίμακες
(‘ staircases ’) ten. In the upper sections the number was probably greater; as at Epidaurus,.
Aspendus, and other theatres, in which the batch of seats corresponding to each block below
a διάζωμα is divided into two blocks above.26 This arrangement, though very common, was by no
means universal; but in a theatre so large as that of Megalopolis it would almost certainly be
adopted. Further, this assumption fits in extremely well with the fact already noted, that the
radii which determine the position of the two extremities of the anditorium in its lowest section
Avould, if extended to its upper sections, have fallen outside the inner retaining wall, and
that therefore we must suppose the outermost staircase at either end, with its adjoining seats,
to have terminated at the lower διάζωμα. In all probability the two outermost blocks above
the lower διάζωμα, with the staircases beyond them, were omitted, thus making the blocks above
this διάζωμα 16 in number instead of 18, and the staircases 17 instead of 19.27 The arrangement
at Epidaurus is precisely similar.
Above the second διάζωμα the blocks may have been again sub-divided, as Vitruvius
directs; but we have no evidence by which to decide this point.
(</) Staircases. Staircases.—The number and distribution of the staircases have been discussed in the
preceding section. It should be added that for every tier of seats in the auditorium there are
two steps (see Pl. VII. Fig. 1), the average height of the steps being about (J of 14j inches = )
7 J inches, and their depth (J of 29 inches = ) 14^· inches. Two steps to a tier was the
usual arrangement. At Athens,28 however, and at Piraeus,29 one sloping step took the place of
two flat ones.30
(e) Passage. Passage.—The passage requires but little comment. At Epidaurus there is no
passage in this position ; the passage there is in front of the θρόνοι and serves also as a
gutter. At Athens there is a narrow passage behind the θρόνοι, like ours at Megalopolis,
and a broad one, as well as a gutter, in front. At Megalopolis we have the passage behind
and the gutter in front, no passage in front. Our passage, which does not widen at the ends
like those at Epidaurus 31 and Athens,82 must have been somewhat narrow as an exit. The
audience, however, were no doubt allowed to leave the theatre by way of the orchestra.
(/) Θρόνοι (seats of
honour).
(f) Θρόνοι or Seats of Honour.—Between the passage and the gutter which drains the
orchestra stands a special row of seats, designated by an inscription on one of them as θρόνοι.
A cut of the central one is given in Fig. 25 ; and Photograph F gives a good idea of them,
as well as of the staircases and the ordinary seats.
These benches, which doubtless served as seats of honour, are nine in number, one bench
corresponding to each block in the auditorium above. They are made in lengths of stone, four (or,
in the case of the two end ones, five) to each bench. They are comfortable to sit in, thus offering
a great contrast to the tiers behind. The seats are conveniently hollowed and the backs slightly
curved, and each bench terminates at either end in an ornamental arm. The space for the feet
is curiously cramped; and it has therefore been suggested that the gutter in front of them was
grated over; but such sinkings as have been discovered in the footboard of the θρόνοι and in
the kerb of the orchestra are insufficient at any rate for a continuous grating.
Seats of honour were the rule in Greek Theatres. In some cases they were long benches,
as at Epidaurus and Megalopolis ; in others they were single chairs or thrones, as at Athens and
Oropus.33 It is well known that those at Athens are inscribed with the names of priests and others
for wThom they were reserved. Similarly the seats of honour at Megalopolis bear the names of
20 See also Vitruvius v. 7, 2 ad fin.
27 In Mr. Schultz’s restoration (Fig. 27) the number of
blocks is doubled in the uppermost section of the audi-
torium only, while in the middle section the two outermost
blocks are somewhat curtailed so as to obviate the difficulty
we have mentioned.
28 Haigh, Attic Theatre, p. 120. Ch. III. Fig. 24, 3.
29 Πρακτικά, 1880, p. 52.
30 For further details in connexion with the steps,
see Chap. III.
31 Πρακτικά, 1883, Pl. I.
32 Baumeister, Denkmdler, p. 1737.
33 Πρακτικά, 1886, Pl. III.
THE THEATRE.
[CHAP. IV.
Number of
‘ blocks ’ and of
staircases.
Thus the rise of the seats is just half of the amount which they recede, and the slope of the
auditorium, in its lower section, is (as previously stated) one in two. We have already given our
reasons for believing that the slope was steeper in the upper sections of the theatre.
The KepiciSes (‘blocks’) in the lowest section are nine in number, and the κΧίμακες
(‘ staircases ’) ten. In the upper sections the number was probably greater; as at Epidaurus,.
Aspendus, and other theatres, in which the batch of seats corresponding to each block below
a διάζωμα is divided into two blocks above.26 This arrangement, though very common, was by no
means universal; but in a theatre so large as that of Megalopolis it would almost certainly be
adopted. Further, this assumption fits in extremely well with the fact already noted, that the
radii which determine the position of the two extremities of the anditorium in its lowest section
Avould, if extended to its upper sections, have fallen outside the inner retaining wall, and
that therefore we must suppose the outermost staircase at either end, with its adjoining seats,
to have terminated at the lower διάζωμα. In all probability the two outermost blocks above
the lower διάζωμα, with the staircases beyond them, were omitted, thus making the blocks above
this διάζωμα 16 in number instead of 18, and the staircases 17 instead of 19.27 The arrangement
at Epidaurus is precisely similar.
Above the second διάζωμα the blocks may have been again sub-divided, as Vitruvius
directs; but we have no evidence by which to decide this point.
(</) Staircases. Staircases.—The number and distribution of the staircases have been discussed in the
preceding section. It should be added that for every tier of seats in the auditorium there are
two steps (see Pl. VII. Fig. 1), the average height of the steps being about (J of 14j inches = )
7 J inches, and their depth (J of 29 inches = ) 14^· inches. Two steps to a tier was the
usual arrangement. At Athens,28 however, and at Piraeus,29 one sloping step took the place of
two flat ones.30
(e) Passage. Passage.—The passage requires but little comment. At Epidaurus there is no
passage in this position ; the passage there is in front of the θρόνοι and serves also as a
gutter. At Athens there is a narrow passage behind the θρόνοι, like ours at Megalopolis,
and a broad one, as well as a gutter, in front. At Megalopolis we have the passage behind
and the gutter in front, no passage in front. Our passage, which does not widen at the ends
like those at Epidaurus 31 and Athens,82 must have been somewhat narrow as an exit. The
audience, however, were no doubt allowed to leave the theatre by way of the orchestra.
(/) Θρόνοι (seats of
honour).
(f) Θρόνοι or Seats of Honour.—Between the passage and the gutter which drains the
orchestra stands a special row of seats, designated by an inscription on one of them as θρόνοι.
A cut of the central one is given in Fig. 25 ; and Photograph F gives a good idea of them,
as well as of the staircases and the ordinary seats.
These benches, which doubtless served as seats of honour, are nine in number, one bench
corresponding to each block in the auditorium above. They are made in lengths of stone, four (or,
in the case of the two end ones, five) to each bench. They are comfortable to sit in, thus offering
a great contrast to the tiers behind. The seats are conveniently hollowed and the backs slightly
curved, and each bench terminates at either end in an ornamental arm. The space for the feet
is curiously cramped; and it has therefore been suggested that the gutter in front of them was
grated over; but such sinkings as have been discovered in the footboard of the θρόνοι and in
the kerb of the orchestra are insufficient at any rate for a continuous grating.
Seats of honour were the rule in Greek Theatres. In some cases they were long benches,
as at Epidaurus and Megalopolis ; in others they were single chairs or thrones, as at Athens and
Oropus.33 It is well known that those at Athens are inscribed with the names of priests and others
for wThom they were reserved. Similarly the seats of honour at Megalopolis bear the names of
20 See also Vitruvius v. 7, 2 ad fin.
27 In Mr. Schultz’s restoration (Fig. 27) the number of
blocks is doubled in the uppermost section of the audi-
torium only, while in the middle section the two outermost
blocks are somewhat curtailed so as to obviate the difficulty
we have mentioned.
28 Haigh, Attic Theatre, p. 120. Ch. III. Fig. 24, 3.
29 Πρακτικά, 1880, p. 52.
30 For further details in connexion with the steps,
see Chap. III.
31 Πρακτικά, 1883, Pl. I.
32 Baumeister, Denkmdler, p. 1737.
33 Πρακτικά, 1886, Pl. III.