 GREEK THEATRE

-The Steep Seating Area usually was dug into a hill side and surrounded the acting area on 3 sides -The seating area was known as “THEATRON” -Theatron translates to “Watching Place” -The circular performance space is known as the “Orchestra” -The Stage House as the back of the Orchestra is known as the “SKENE” (Skee-nee) -Skene is the origin of the word S-C-E-N-E

 It is believed that the skene was used to house stage machinery, storage for props and costumes, possible dressing/break rooms  Usually the Skene had Multiple Doorways and arches to serve as entranceways for performers  The “Paraskenia” were long high walls that extended off the skene  There was sometimes a small platform that would jut out from the Paraskenia

 Later there would be a small elevated stage in front of the skene.  At the back of this stage would be a collumned arch right in front of the skene  This arch became known as the “Proskenium”or “Proskenion”  The word Proscenium is derived from “Proskenium”

 ROMAN THEATRE

-The Romans continued to use Greek Amphitheatres but they also started to develop their own style of Theater -The Roman Style is a modified version of the Greek form -Roman Theaters were built on flat land and not on the hillsides that the Greeks prefered. -Roman Theatres also became a consolidated structure connecting the Orchestra, Theatron, and Skene

 The theatron area that sat the audience became known as the “cavea” or “AUDITORIUM”  “AUDITORIUM” Translates to Listening Place  The cavea became a semi circle shape around the semi-circle shaped orchestra  The skene was transformed into an elaboratley decorated single façade known as  “Scaenae Frons”

 A roofing system was developed for some of the theatres  The roof extended from the scaenae frons to the edge of the proscenium  Some of the Theaters even had an Awning that covered the Auditorium known as the “Velum”  Circuses, Gladiator Games, Lion Feedings, and Races led to the creation of other Roman Theaters

 Arena Theaters were as if two Roman Theaters were put back to back and had their Skene removed  It had the audience totally encompass the performance area  This allowed for Thousands of people to attend events such as chariot races and gladiator games

 The adoption of the Archway in Roman architecture led to the ability to build taller structures creating steeper seating  This steep seating would allow for good sight lines and aid in acoustics and are still used today and known as Stadium Seating  Another architectural advancement was the use of the VOMITORIUM  Vomitorium (Vom) are tunnels built into the seating area that would allow thousands of people to exit the stadium quickly

 The origin of the name was thought to be because these events would last all day and would be fueled with gluttonous feasts of wine and food  If a patron felt the need to purge themselves they would go to the vomitorium  A more modern interpretation is that at the events end, It would look as if the Stadium was “Vomiting” out people as thousands exited the stands through the Vomitoriums

 Vomitoriums are still used today!

 After the fall of the Roman Empire there was a period of 500 years where Theaters and Arenas structures were not used and fell into dis-repair  Even the gorgeous marble and stone façade of the Coliseum was pillaged leaving a broken skeleton of a grand stadium