DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4264#0078
78
or THE THEATRE OF BACCHUS.
I
osed our inquiries. For as the front of the scene forms part of an outwork to the fortress, and
Era directly under the only entrance to it, in full view of the garrison, our operations excited their
•ealousy; they were not ahle to comprehend our motives for wishing to measure and to set men to
dig in this place, which, despoiled of all ornaments, seemed so little to deserve our attention ; and
they would not be persuaded that we came so far, and engaged in so much fatigue and expense, merely
to satisfy what appeared to them an idle and useless curiosity.
This was the more mortifying to us, as there is a considerable depth of earth and rubbish, which
covers the proscenium, logeum, orchestra, and other the more interesting parts of the theatre; and
we had persuaded ourselves, that on removing it we should have discovered, at least, the rudiments of
those parts hitherto perhaps not perfectly understood. Besides which, as the ranges of seats one above
the other, the general slope of which still remains, form a pretty steep semicircular declivity, much of
what has been demolished in the upper part of the theatre, and the buildings which were situated im-
mediately above it, must have rolled down into the orchestra, or against the front of the scene ; where
it must have stopt, and where apparently it has formed the level space we now see, which is raised
many feet higher than the ground behind the scene. We therefore thought there was a probability
that some architectural ornaments, some fragments of sculpture, or some unpublished inscriptions,
were buried there, and would have accompanied the more interesting discoveries we wished to make
concerning the construction of ancient theatres: but this task, desirous as we were to accomplish it,
must be reserved for more fortunate adventurers3.
Disappointed in our principal object, we nevertheless bestowed some time in taking the general
dimensions and in digging behind the scene, where we proceeded without interruption ; and by clear-
ing away a great quantity of earth and rubbish discovered the situation and communications of the
staircases, the plan of the postscenium, with some other particulars, which had escaped the notice of
others. As these may prove acceptable to some of our readers, I have given the four" following plates,
in which all the observations we made on this building are inserted.
,/J
w
PLATE XXXV.
A view of the front of the scene. In the distant horizon appears part of the Sinus Saronicus
or gulph of Athens, and the mountains near Hermione and Troezene, in the territory of Argos; at
the extremity of these mountains is the promontory Scyllaeum, and the island Calaurea, in which De-
mosthenes died. Nearer is a part of the Attic shore about Aexone, now Hassane, maintaining still
its ancient reputation for red mulletsc. Just over the cypress tree, on the right hand, is the monu-
ment of Philopappus ; the hill on which it stands is now called ' To Seggio', but anciently the Mu-
we can at present form no conclusions, but its singular position
within the proscenium renders it worthy of remark.
We may probably be indebted to the preservation of what re-
mains of this theatre, (if not to the protection of this well,) to
the cause which may have devoted to destruction the superior
sized Dionysiac theatre; namely, the defence of the Acropolis dur-
ing the lower ages. The ruins of this theatre may have been
thought an advantageous outwork, (and they have been walled
up and loop-holed,) whilst the position of the great theatre
may have been adjudged to facilitate and afford cover to the
approaches of a besieger. Paus. L. I. C. XXIX. Plato in
Conviv. Chandler's Travels, V. II. C. XII. Paus. L. VII. C.
XX. Chandler's Ins. Ant. P. 11. Ins. XL. Philostrat. in Herod.
Le Roy, Ruines de la Grece, p. 13. Hughes's Travels, V. I. pp.
100. 420. Leake's Topy. of Athens. Dodwell's Travels. Millin.
Diet, des Beaux Arts. CED-J
a We have never heard of any recent travellers having hitherto
attempted any excavation within the interior of this ruin, [ed.]
b Mr. Newton, the original editor of the second volume at the
death of Stuart, has observed, in the introduction, page 8, that
but two plates of this chapter " had been engraved, nor were any
drawings, intended for the two others, to be found." In an ad-
ditional volume, published in 1816, are to be seen an exterior and
interior elevation, and a transverse section, professed to be made
from the sketch books of Stuart. These convey little additional
information. The editor of that volume observes, " Of the de-
tails of the stairs themselves I could make out nothing satis-
factory. I ought to mention, that a drawing of M. Fauvel, for
the use of which I am indebted to the liberality of I. Hawkins,
Esq. of Bignor Park, has enabled me, in some instances, to un-
derstand the position of Mr. Stuart's sketches of this edifice."
[ed.]
c O^' At£;im£' s^t'E^op^wy Ec7$.0L'y in
TfiyAni'.—Cratinus, Trophonio.
* Nor any more to eat the red mullets of Aexone.'
At^uvibx TgiyXw* doxoL'cri y.a.XKicr'Ta.i nvcci a\ Al^uviy.oa TViyAai. -He-
sychius in voce Ai|a»iJ«.
' Aexonian mullets. Aexonian mullets are reckoned the most
excellent.'
"-itii«
11.
Si"*4
or THE THEATRE OF BACCHUS.
I
osed our inquiries. For as the front of the scene forms part of an outwork to the fortress, and
Era directly under the only entrance to it, in full view of the garrison, our operations excited their
•ealousy; they were not ahle to comprehend our motives for wishing to measure and to set men to
dig in this place, which, despoiled of all ornaments, seemed so little to deserve our attention ; and
they would not be persuaded that we came so far, and engaged in so much fatigue and expense, merely
to satisfy what appeared to them an idle and useless curiosity.
This was the more mortifying to us, as there is a considerable depth of earth and rubbish, which
covers the proscenium, logeum, orchestra, and other the more interesting parts of the theatre; and
we had persuaded ourselves, that on removing it we should have discovered, at least, the rudiments of
those parts hitherto perhaps not perfectly understood. Besides which, as the ranges of seats one above
the other, the general slope of which still remains, form a pretty steep semicircular declivity, much of
what has been demolished in the upper part of the theatre, and the buildings which were situated im-
mediately above it, must have rolled down into the orchestra, or against the front of the scene ; where
it must have stopt, and where apparently it has formed the level space we now see, which is raised
many feet higher than the ground behind the scene. We therefore thought there was a probability
that some architectural ornaments, some fragments of sculpture, or some unpublished inscriptions,
were buried there, and would have accompanied the more interesting discoveries we wished to make
concerning the construction of ancient theatres: but this task, desirous as we were to accomplish it,
must be reserved for more fortunate adventurers3.
Disappointed in our principal object, we nevertheless bestowed some time in taking the general
dimensions and in digging behind the scene, where we proceeded without interruption ; and by clear-
ing away a great quantity of earth and rubbish discovered the situation and communications of the
staircases, the plan of the postscenium, with some other particulars, which had escaped the notice of
others. As these may prove acceptable to some of our readers, I have given the four" following plates,
in which all the observations we made on this building are inserted.
,/J
w
PLATE XXXV.
A view of the front of the scene. In the distant horizon appears part of the Sinus Saronicus
or gulph of Athens, and the mountains near Hermione and Troezene, in the territory of Argos; at
the extremity of these mountains is the promontory Scyllaeum, and the island Calaurea, in which De-
mosthenes died. Nearer is a part of the Attic shore about Aexone, now Hassane, maintaining still
its ancient reputation for red mulletsc. Just over the cypress tree, on the right hand, is the monu-
ment of Philopappus ; the hill on which it stands is now called ' To Seggio', but anciently the Mu-
we can at present form no conclusions, but its singular position
within the proscenium renders it worthy of remark.
We may probably be indebted to the preservation of what re-
mains of this theatre, (if not to the protection of this well,) to
the cause which may have devoted to destruction the superior
sized Dionysiac theatre; namely, the defence of the Acropolis dur-
ing the lower ages. The ruins of this theatre may have been
thought an advantageous outwork, (and they have been walled
up and loop-holed,) whilst the position of the great theatre
may have been adjudged to facilitate and afford cover to the
approaches of a besieger. Paus. L. I. C. XXIX. Plato in
Conviv. Chandler's Travels, V. II. C. XII. Paus. L. VII. C.
XX. Chandler's Ins. Ant. P. 11. Ins. XL. Philostrat. in Herod.
Le Roy, Ruines de la Grece, p. 13. Hughes's Travels, V. I. pp.
100. 420. Leake's Topy. of Athens. Dodwell's Travels. Millin.
Diet, des Beaux Arts. CED-J
a We have never heard of any recent travellers having hitherto
attempted any excavation within the interior of this ruin, [ed.]
b Mr. Newton, the original editor of the second volume at the
death of Stuart, has observed, in the introduction, page 8, that
but two plates of this chapter " had been engraved, nor were any
drawings, intended for the two others, to be found." In an ad-
ditional volume, published in 1816, are to be seen an exterior and
interior elevation, and a transverse section, professed to be made
from the sketch books of Stuart. These convey little additional
information. The editor of that volume observes, " Of the de-
tails of the stairs themselves I could make out nothing satis-
factory. I ought to mention, that a drawing of M. Fauvel, for
the use of which I am indebted to the liberality of I. Hawkins,
Esq. of Bignor Park, has enabled me, in some instances, to un-
derstand the position of Mr. Stuart's sketches of this edifice."
[ed.]
c O^' At£;im£' s^t'E^op^wy Ec7$.0L'y in
TfiyAni'.—Cratinus, Trophonio.
* Nor any more to eat the red mullets of Aexone.'
At^uvibx TgiyXw* doxoL'cri y.a.XKicr'Ta.i nvcci a\ Al^uviy.oa TViyAai. -He-
sychius in voce Ai|a»iJ«.
' Aexonian mullets. Aexonian mullets are reckoned the most
excellent.'
"-itii«
11.
Si"*4