DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.47233#0094
78
THE THEATRE.
[CHAP. IV.
In the following measurements the ‘ front seats ’ referred to are in every case the seats of honour;
since even at Megalopolis, where those seats are probably an addition to the original scheme
of the Theatre, they were certainly in position before the erection of the ‘ proscenium ’ from which
the measurements are taken.
We find then :—
(1) proscenium to central front seat
(2) proscenium to wings of auditorium
Megalopolis
Athens
Epidaurus
77 feet
8 2J feet
76 feet
Hl „
1G „
13J „
so that in actual distance of spectators from actors, and in width of πάροδοί, the Theatre at
Megalopolis occupies an intermediate position between those at Athens and Epidaurus, though
the diameter of the orchestra at Megalopolis is a great deal larger than at either, viz. 104 feet,46
as against 88 feet at Athens, and 83 feet at Epidaurus.47 At the same time we must remember
that we have no trace of any proscenium at Megalopolis contemporary with the Theatre, and
that such a proscenium, if there was one—(a question which will be considered in a latter
section)—may have stood back somewhat farther than that now in existence, though not far
enough back, by a long way, to allow of the completion of the circle of the existing kerb.
No subterranean No trace has been found at Megalopolis of any subterranean passage beneath the orchestra,
^orchestrir^11 such as those which have been discovered at Eretria,48 Sicyon,49 and Magnesia.50 Nor have
we found any remains' of the θυμέλη, or altar, which doubtless stood in the centre of the
orchestra.
Pedestals within
the orchestra.
The pedestals A. and B, situated just within the orchestra and at the extremities of
the auditorium, supported statues. On one of them (B) a dedicatory inscription has been found,
in characters which are probably not earlier than the second century b.c. These bases will
be again referred to in § 5. III. The inscription will be found in Chap. VII. No. IX.
The Portico in its
Relation to the
Theatre
served as a back-
ground,
or ‘ irons scenae.’
§. 4. The Portico in front of the Thersilion, in its relation to the Theatre.
The Great Portico, which formed the facade and main entrance of the Thersilion,
served also as a background for the performances in the Theatre; for any other background,
erected in front of this, would have concealed the facade, which was meant to be seen, and
probably would have blocked the entrance, which was meant to be used.51 This argument would
lose none of its force if the Theatre should be proved to be of somewhat later date than the
Thersilion or vice versa; for if they were not contemporary, the later building must still
have been built as a complement to the other, and not in total disregard of it; this alone can
explain their juxtaposition.
The fact that a proscenium was erected in later times in such a position and of such
a height as to partially conceal the colonnade of the Portico, is no argument in favour of such
an arrangement as part of the original plan ; for an alteration is one thing, and an original
design another.
Those who suppose that the word ‘proscenium,’ when applied to the Greek Theatre,
designated not (as Vitruvius tells us52) a structure upon Avliich the actors stood, but the
background before which they acted, may possibly choose to call the Portico, in its relation
to the Theatre, by the name of ‘ proscenium,’ while we, who follow Vitruvius, would call it
46 Before the addition of the seats of honour the
diameter was even greater, viz. 114ft.
47 The above measurements are taken, for Athens, from
Kawerau’s plan in Baumeister’s Denhmdler, p. 1737 ; for
Epidaurus, from Πρακτικά, 1883, Pl. I. The measurement
in each case is taken to the front of the seats of honour.
48 American Journal of Archaeology, vol. vii. p. 275, and
Pl. XI.
49 Ibid,, vol. v. p. 276, and vii. p. 281.
50 Mittheilungen d. deutsch. arch. Inst. Athen. xvi. p. 266.
51 This is also the view of Dr. Dorpfeld, who regards
the portico as the ‘ Hintergrund des Spiels,’ Herl. Phil.
Woch. 1891, p. 419; Mittheilungen, xvi. p. 258.; cf.
also Mittheilungen, xvii. p. 98. He further suggests that
on exceptional occasions (ausnahmsweise), when the nature
of the piece recpiired it, temporary scenery was erected in
front of the colonnade ;—a suggestion which has our entire
approval.
52 Vitruvius v. 8.
THE THEATRE.
[CHAP. IV.
In the following measurements the ‘ front seats ’ referred to are in every case the seats of honour;
since even at Megalopolis, where those seats are probably an addition to the original scheme
of the Theatre, they were certainly in position before the erection of the ‘ proscenium ’ from which
the measurements are taken.
We find then :—
(1) proscenium to central front seat
(2) proscenium to wings of auditorium
Megalopolis
Athens
Epidaurus
77 feet
8 2J feet
76 feet
Hl „
1G „
13J „
so that in actual distance of spectators from actors, and in width of πάροδοί, the Theatre at
Megalopolis occupies an intermediate position between those at Athens and Epidaurus, though
the diameter of the orchestra at Megalopolis is a great deal larger than at either, viz. 104 feet,46
as against 88 feet at Athens, and 83 feet at Epidaurus.47 At the same time we must remember
that we have no trace of any proscenium at Megalopolis contemporary with the Theatre, and
that such a proscenium, if there was one—(a question which will be considered in a latter
section)—may have stood back somewhat farther than that now in existence, though not far
enough back, by a long way, to allow of the completion of the circle of the existing kerb.
No subterranean No trace has been found at Megalopolis of any subterranean passage beneath the orchestra,
^orchestrir^11 such as those which have been discovered at Eretria,48 Sicyon,49 and Magnesia.50 Nor have
we found any remains' of the θυμέλη, or altar, which doubtless stood in the centre of the
orchestra.
Pedestals within
the orchestra.
The pedestals A. and B, situated just within the orchestra and at the extremities of
the auditorium, supported statues. On one of them (B) a dedicatory inscription has been found,
in characters which are probably not earlier than the second century b.c. These bases will
be again referred to in § 5. III. The inscription will be found in Chap. VII. No. IX.
The Portico in its
Relation to the
Theatre
served as a back-
ground,
or ‘ irons scenae.’
§. 4. The Portico in front of the Thersilion, in its relation to the Theatre.
The Great Portico, which formed the facade and main entrance of the Thersilion,
served also as a background for the performances in the Theatre; for any other background,
erected in front of this, would have concealed the facade, which was meant to be seen, and
probably would have blocked the entrance, which was meant to be used.51 This argument would
lose none of its force if the Theatre should be proved to be of somewhat later date than the
Thersilion or vice versa; for if they were not contemporary, the later building must still
have been built as a complement to the other, and not in total disregard of it; this alone can
explain their juxtaposition.
The fact that a proscenium was erected in later times in such a position and of such
a height as to partially conceal the colonnade of the Portico, is no argument in favour of such
an arrangement as part of the original plan ; for an alteration is one thing, and an original
design another.
Those who suppose that the word ‘proscenium,’ when applied to the Greek Theatre,
designated not (as Vitruvius tells us52) a structure upon Avliich the actors stood, but the
background before which they acted, may possibly choose to call the Portico, in its relation
to the Theatre, by the name of ‘ proscenium,’ while we, who follow Vitruvius, would call it
46 Before the addition of the seats of honour the
diameter was even greater, viz. 114ft.
47 The above measurements are taken, for Athens, from
Kawerau’s plan in Baumeister’s Denhmdler, p. 1737 ; for
Epidaurus, from Πρακτικά, 1883, Pl. I. The measurement
in each case is taken to the front of the seats of honour.
48 American Journal of Archaeology, vol. vii. p. 275, and
Pl. XI.
49 Ibid,, vol. v. p. 276, and vii. p. 281.
50 Mittheilungen d. deutsch. arch. Inst. Athen. xvi. p. 266.
51 This is also the view of Dr. Dorpfeld, who regards
the portico as the ‘ Hintergrund des Spiels,’ Herl. Phil.
Woch. 1891, p. 419; Mittheilungen, xvi. p. 258.; cf.
also Mittheilungen, xvii. p. 98. He further suggests that
on exceptional occasions (ausnahmsweise), when the nature
of the piece recpiired it, temporary scenery was erected in
front of the colonnade ;—a suggestion which has our entire
approval.
52 Vitruvius v. 8.