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generally accommodated 15,000 to
20,000 persons. In this respect, we
might interpret the typical theatre of
ancient Greece as something more akin
to a sports stadium.

THE ORCHESTRA
The meaning of this word has
changed. In ancient times, orchestra
referred to a place for dancing, a
circular area about 25m. in diameter in
front of the auditorium. The circular
shape was significant; according to the
Dionyssiac cult, the circle had
supernatural powers. The orchestra was
approximately three to four metres
below the front row of seats, which
formed its boundary.
At the theatre of Dionysus, an altar
stood in the centre of the orchestra
from where sacrifices to Dionysus were
made. The altar later became a place
where the leader of the chorus
(koryphaios) would stand. The chorus
danced, chanted and sang from the Orchestra of the theatre of Dionysus.
orchestra.
distinguish the actors from the chorus. in better theatres than those available to
Flights of steps led from the
The flat roof of the skene was called the authors.
orchestra to the stage. The stage was
theologion, indicating, as the almost The Dionysus Theatre of Athens has
level with the lowest tier of seats. Other
identical word does today, a dedication been mentioned. Here are some other
steps known as ‘Charon's stairways’ led
to the gods. worthy examples.
to the chambers below. From these
Machines were stored in the skenes. Delphi, Greece
chambers, ghostly apparitions from the
The three most popular of these were The theatre at Delphi features the
underworld might appear.
the Aeorama (like a crane, as described most spectacular views. It is situated up
EQUIPMENT previously), the Periactoi and the hill from the Temple of Apollo and
Behind the acting area was the Ekeclema. provides spectators with a superb sight
skene, at first a wooden hut for the The periactoi were two pillars that of the valley below.
performers to change their masks and when placed on the left and right of the The Delphi theatre was built in the
costumes. Later it was decorated with a skene were used to change the 4th century BC from local Parnassus
row of columns, known as the background. limestone. It has 35 rows of seats and
proscenium. At the end of the 5th The ekeclema was a platform set on can accommodate approximately 5,000
century BC, permanent koilons and wheels that enabled the bodies of dead spectators.
skenes began to replace wooden, characters to be presented
mobile ones. This gave rise to the on stage. A murder or a
words ‘scene’ and ‘scenery’ that we use suicide was never directly
today. Often the skene was decorated to enacted in front of the
represent a palace or a temple. spectators.
Between the skene and the seats OUTSTANDING
were two entrances known as parodoi. THEATRES
Performers could use these as entrances
Not all fine theatres
to distinguish themselves from those
were in Greece itself.
entering via the skene. There was one
Conquest and trade spread
parodos to the left and one to the right.
Greek style and influence
If an actor entered from the right
far and wide. Most of the
parodos, it signified that he was coming
superb stone theatres that
from the city to the port. If he entered
survive today were not built
from the left parodos, it meant he was The theatre at Delphi.
until the fourth century BC, after the
coming from the fields or from abroad.
golden age of playwriting. The gap
Sometime in the Hellenistic period Epidaurus, Greece
between a creative peak in one cultural
(fourth century BC to first century BC) Epidaurus was a coastal town situated
form and another is not unusual. The
a raised platform was added along the to the south east of Corinth. Polykleitos
plays of Shakespeare and Moliere, of
back wall of the skene. Known as the the Younger built the theatre in the late
Chekov and Ibsen were later performed
logeion, it was an innovation to further fourth or early third century BC.
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