DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.13851#0060
38
OP THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT OP ATHENS.
not long after, erected fixed and durable theatres of stone, commonly of
marble, which by degress were increased to that magnitude that they ex-
ceeded almost all other buildings in Greece.
The figure of theatres was semicircular, though they were not exact
semicircles, but contained the bigger half of the circle, and therefore am-
phitheatres, which were made in the same figure, as if two theatres should
be joined together, were not orbicular, but oval. They consisted of two
parts, SxW, Scena, and KofXov, Cavea. Scena was a partition assigned for
the actors, reaching quite cross the theatre, which at first, agreeably to
the ancient simplicity, was dressed with boughs and leaves, but in more
expensive ages was adorned with rich and costly hangings, to hide the
management of machines, and other actions of the players, from the spec-
tators. It was either so framed as that it might be turned round, and then
it was called versatilis, or drawn up, and then it was ductilis, and this way
is usually practised in our theatres, in changing the prospect. It had
three principal gates, one upon the right hand, another upon the left, by
which were presented meaner and smaller edifices ; and a third in the
middle, by which more magnificent structures, as temples of the gods, or
palaces of kings, were brought in view ; and on each side of the gate was
a lesser entrance, through which the persons, either of gods or men,
were introduced by various machines and instruments, the names whereof
you may find explained in Julius Pollux (1). The whole scene was di-
vided into several parts, the most remarkable whereof are these :
B^ovrelov. a place underneath the floor, wherein were kept brazen ves-
sels full of stones, and other materials, with which they imitated the noise
of thunder.
Einc-xjjviov a place upon the top of the scene, in which all the machines,
whereby they presented the various figures and prospects, were moved.
na^arfxijvioi', the tiring-room, a place behind the scenes, wherein the
actors dressed and adorned themselves.
rifetfxajviov, the stage, a place before the scenes in which the players
acted. And Ogxjrga was that part in which the chorus used to dance and
sina, in the middle of which was placed the pulpit, in Greek AeytTov, or
©yjt/.fX'*}.
'Twitfxjjuov, a partition under the pulpit, appointed for the music.
The KoiAov, or Cavea, was appointed for the spectators, and consisted
of three parts, placed in equal degrees one above another ; the lowest of
which belonged to persons of quality and magistrates ; the middle to the
commonality ; the uppermost to the women.
And because theatres were open at the top, they erected porticoes be-
hind the cavea, whither they retired for shelter in rainy weather.
ATHENS HAD THREE HARBOURS FOR SHIPS.
1. ne^wsu?, Piraeus, which belonged to the tribe of Hippothoontis, and
was thirty-five or forty stadia distant from the city, before the building of
the long walls, which have been already mentioned. From which time the
Athenians, by the direction of Themistocles, made this their chief har-
bour. It contained three a|(jt.oi, or docks ; the first called KaWkgog, from
an hero of that name. The second A^o5/rfiov, from A^&'tij, or Venus,
who had there two temples, one of which was consecrated by Themisto-
fl) Onomast. lib, iv. cap. 1R.
OP THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT OP ATHENS.
not long after, erected fixed and durable theatres of stone, commonly of
marble, which by degress were increased to that magnitude that they ex-
ceeded almost all other buildings in Greece.
The figure of theatres was semicircular, though they were not exact
semicircles, but contained the bigger half of the circle, and therefore am-
phitheatres, which were made in the same figure, as if two theatres should
be joined together, were not orbicular, but oval. They consisted of two
parts, SxW, Scena, and KofXov, Cavea. Scena was a partition assigned for
the actors, reaching quite cross the theatre, which at first, agreeably to
the ancient simplicity, was dressed with boughs and leaves, but in more
expensive ages was adorned with rich and costly hangings, to hide the
management of machines, and other actions of the players, from the spec-
tators. It was either so framed as that it might be turned round, and then
it was called versatilis, or drawn up, and then it was ductilis, and this way
is usually practised in our theatres, in changing the prospect. It had
three principal gates, one upon the right hand, another upon the left, by
which were presented meaner and smaller edifices ; and a third in the
middle, by which more magnificent structures, as temples of the gods, or
palaces of kings, were brought in view ; and on each side of the gate was
a lesser entrance, through which the persons, either of gods or men,
were introduced by various machines and instruments, the names whereof
you may find explained in Julius Pollux (1). The whole scene was di-
vided into several parts, the most remarkable whereof are these :
B^ovrelov. a place underneath the floor, wherein were kept brazen ves-
sels full of stones, and other materials, with which they imitated the noise
of thunder.
Einc-xjjviov a place upon the top of the scene, in which all the machines,
whereby they presented the various figures and prospects, were moved.
na^arfxijvioi', the tiring-room, a place behind the scenes, wherein the
actors dressed and adorned themselves.
rifetfxajviov, the stage, a place before the scenes in which the players
acted. And Ogxjrga was that part in which the chorus used to dance and
sina, in the middle of which was placed the pulpit, in Greek AeytTov, or
©yjt/.fX'*}.
'Twitfxjjuov, a partition under the pulpit, appointed for the music.
The KoiAov, or Cavea, was appointed for the spectators, and consisted
of three parts, placed in equal degrees one above another ; the lowest of
which belonged to persons of quality and magistrates ; the middle to the
commonality ; the uppermost to the women.
And because theatres were open at the top, they erected porticoes be-
hind the cavea, whither they retired for shelter in rainy weather.
ATHENS HAD THREE HARBOURS FOR SHIPS.
1. ne^wsu?, Piraeus, which belonged to the tribe of Hippothoontis, and
was thirty-five or forty stadia distant from the city, before the building of
the long walls, which have been already mentioned. From which time the
Athenians, by the direction of Themistocles, made this their chief har-
bour. It contained three a|(jt.oi, or docks ; the first called KaWkgog, from
an hero of that name. The second A^o5/rfiov, from A^&'tij, or Venus,
who had there two temples, one of which was consecrated by Themisto-
fl) Onomast. lib, iv. cap. 1R.