DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61617#0197
THE SMALL THEATRE
149
building, however, is derived from the one erected at Athens by
Herodes Atticus, in the reign of Hadrian. This was called an
Odeum, that is, according to the derivation of the word, a room
for singing; musical entertainments were held there, especially,
we may assume, those musical contests which had so important
a place in ancient festivals. The purpose of the roof was doubt-
less to add to the acoustic effect.
The plan of the Large Theatre has been discussed at so great
length that a few words will suffice in relation to that of the
smaller structure (Fig. 61). That it might be possible to cover
the enclosed space with a roof, the upper rows of seats were
reduced in length, and the whole building — cavea, orchestra,
and stage — was brought into an oblong shape; only the orches-
tra and the lower rows of seats in the cavea form a complete
semicircle. The pyramidal roof was supported by a wall on all
four sides; in the upper part of the wall, between the roof and
the highest row of seats, there were probably windows.
The seating capacity of the building was about fifteen hundred.
The lowest section of the cavea, as in the Large Theatre, con-
sisted of four low, broad ledges on which
the chairs of the decurions could be placed.
Above these is a parapet, behind which
is a passage accessible at either end by
semicircular steps. The broad range of
seats above was divided into five wedge-
shaped blocks by flights of steps ; only two
of these, however, extended as far as the passage running along
the upper side, which could be reached from the alley at the rear
of the building by means of stairways connecting with outside
doors.
The seats were of masonry capped with slabs of tufa about
seven inches thick. They had depressions in the side and in
the top, as may be seen in the accompanying section (Fig. 63).
They were thus made somewhat more comfortable, the person
in front being less subject to disturbance from the feet of one
sitting on the next seat behind ; a saving of room was also
effected — an important consideration in the construction of
a small auditorium.
Fig. 63. — Section of a seat
in the Small Theatre.
149
building, however, is derived from the one erected at Athens by
Herodes Atticus, in the reign of Hadrian. This was called an
Odeum, that is, according to the derivation of the word, a room
for singing; musical entertainments were held there, especially,
we may assume, those musical contests which had so important
a place in ancient festivals. The purpose of the roof was doubt-
less to add to the acoustic effect.
The plan of the Large Theatre has been discussed at so great
length that a few words will suffice in relation to that of the
smaller structure (Fig. 61). That it might be possible to cover
the enclosed space with a roof, the upper rows of seats were
reduced in length, and the whole building — cavea, orchestra,
and stage — was brought into an oblong shape; only the orches-
tra and the lower rows of seats in the cavea form a complete
semicircle. The pyramidal roof was supported by a wall on all
four sides; in the upper part of the wall, between the roof and
the highest row of seats, there were probably windows.
The seating capacity of the building was about fifteen hundred.
The lowest section of the cavea, as in the Large Theatre, con-
sisted of four low, broad ledges on which
the chairs of the decurions could be placed.
Above these is a parapet, behind which
is a passage accessible at either end by
semicircular steps. The broad range of
seats above was divided into five wedge-
shaped blocks by flights of steps ; only two
of these, however, extended as far as the passage running along
the upper side, which could be reached from the alley at the rear
of the building by means of stairways connecting with outside
doors.
The seats were of masonry capped with slabs of tufa about
seven inches thick. They had depressions in the side and in
the top, as may be seen in the accompanying section (Fig. 63).
They were thus made somewhat more comfortable, the person
in front being less subject to disturbance from the feet of one
sitting on the next seat behind ; a saving of room was also
effected — an important consideration in the construction of
a small auditorium.
Fig. 63. — Section of a seat
in the Small Theatre.