Greek Theatre Research Paper

The Greek theatre was first built in ancient Athens around the 6th century BC. After the victory on the Persians, Athens was rebuild on a grand scale. Magnificent temples arose on the Acropolis. Early theaters were built on a temporary wooden structure on a hillside or slopes that would be able to support the seats and allow the audience to hear and see what was going on the staged. They were open-air and most often shaped like a bowl. The natural shape of the hill would provide elevation so the back row could see without having to create large structures like the Roman theatres. Some of this massive theater would accommodate 15,000 to 20,000 people. Originally the audience would stand or sit while watching the performance. It was after the …show more content…
Mainland, Greece became a Roman province and for the third time the Dionysus theater in Athens was fundamentally renovated. This time by Roman emperor Nero in 61 AD. Striking differences with the Hellenistic style is the lowered stage with enlarged surface, and a larger skene. The orchestra was surrounded by a stone barricade in order to protect the spectators (from gladiatorial combats). The skene was further adorned with many statues and other sculptures. After the first century AD most of the existing theaters we remodeled to the Roman ideal of theatre architecture like this theater at Taormina (Sicily). However, Theater was deemed a threat to Roman morality. In Greece, the theater was a symbol of democracy, but the Roman Republic was aristocratic. The oldest truly Roman stone theater was not built in Rome, it was built by colonists in Pompeii in 75 BC, because they were out of the direct reach of the Roman senate. The distinguished, Roman general and political leader, Pompey was permitted to build this theater in 55 BC. This architecture has become the standard for all future Roman theaters and amphitheaters. A huge linen or woolen canvas (velum or velarium) was stretched over the roof of the auditorium to protect the spectators from the sun and rain. This first Roman theatre was also for centuries the greatest theatre in Europe, with seating capacity of 28.000 spectators. Rivalry between military leaders in Rome led to the construction of two more theaters near the Tiber River. As part of the infallible "bread and circuses" measures for controlling the crowds, under the reign of the emperors throughout the whole empire Roman theaters were built. Greek theatres were not enclosed. The audience - especially in the upper part of the auditorium - could see the surrounding countryside as well as the actors and chorus. Contrary to the Greek theaters, most of the Roman theaters were free standing architectural