The Theater

Description of the Theater

Symmetrically placed within the circle of the orchestra are the three geometrical centers of the concave seat wedges forming a triangle with two very closed and one very wide corner angle pointing to the auditorium. The one exactly coinciding with the center of the orchestra is also the center of the 8 central wedges of the lower part, while the two sets of wedges at either side have their centers located at each distant corner of the triangle, on a line parallel to the Stage. Being extensions of the seat wedges of the lower part, those at the upper part follow the same geometry. This choice of geometrical features enables better visibility, without disturbing the impression of a perfect shape. The lower part of the auditorium has 34 rows of seats and the upper 21, bringing the total to 55, with a capacity of about 14000 spectators. As in most hellenic theaters, the lowest row of seats has the form of a continuous throne, reserved for state officials, priests, and other important personages. Through a pair of drains at both ends of the circular corridor between the orchestra and the lowest row of seats, the rain water running down from the stone cavea was driven into an underground drainage system and carried away.

The auditorium had a slope of about 26 degrees. Strong lateral retaining walls held both of its side limits facing outwards to the stage building. A tower of unknown function crowned their top at either side. The two oblong passages left between the retaining walls and the stage building at either side formed the "parodoi" (passageways). Spectators taking their seats at the lower part of the auditorium would enter the theater through them, and so would the "choros" during the performance. Two imposing gateways made of stone, with pilasters carrying an ionic entablature, architecturally linked the stage building to the auditorium. Each had twin openings, one leading directly to the orchestra ground, the other onto the stage via a ramp. Metal grills placed within these openings secured the theater, when not in operation.

In its final phase during the late Hellenistic period the stage building was a two-storey structure with a single storey projection towards the orchestra. The stage building consisted of the following parts:

The "Proskenion" (fore-stage) This was a single-storey projection towards the circular orchestra raising to a height of 3.5 meters. Its side facing the spectators had the form of an elegant colonnade in the ionic order, with gate-like wings at either end. The free, flat space exactly above the proskenion was called "Theologeion". There the main "hypocritae" (actors) would act their parts of the drama during the performance. The theologeion was accesible from both sides via the ramps entered through the openings at the gateways. Behind the proskenion and the theologeion lay the stage proper, a two-storey building. Its groundfloor was called the "Skene" (stage) and had four columns carrying the upper floor called "Episkenion" (over-the-stage). The front side of the episkenion facing the spectators was open, with four pillars that covered the span from side to side. The openings between the pillars were blocked with hanging "pinakes" (backcloth screens) carrying painted settings appropriate for each play.