Roman TheatreRoman Theatre

Brief history of the invasion of Brief history of the invasion of the Romans in Greecethe Romans in Greece

The Romans began to expand out of Italy in The Romans began to expand out of Italy in an effort to conquer other parts of the an effort to conquer other parts of the Mediterranean around 275 BC.Mediterranean around 275 BC.

Originally, the Romans allowed Greece to Originally, the Romans allowed Greece to believe that they were still independent. By believe that they were still independent. By 146 BC, however, they had destroyed 146 BC, however, they had destroyed Corinth and made Athens a providence of Corinth and made Athens a providence of the Roman Empire.the Roman Empire.

The Romans considered Greece to be weak The Romans considered Greece to be weak politically. politically.

History, Facts and History, Facts and Information about Roman Information about Roman

TheatreTheatreMuch of the architecture, structure, Much of the architecture, structure, design, buildings and the playsdesign, buildings and the plays shown in the Roman theatre were shown in the Roman theatre were influenced by the Greek theatre.influenced by the Greek theatre.

The semicircular The semicircular design of the design of the building enhanced the natural building enhanced the natural acousticsacoustics of the theatre. of the theatre.

The The entertainmententertainment available in the available in the Roman Theatre Roman Theatre included mime, included mime, orations, dance, choral events and orations, dance, choral events and different types of plays including different types of plays including farce, tragedy and comedy.farce, tragedy and comedy.

Different types of Roman Different types of Roman Theatres and AmphitheatresTheatres and AmphitheatresThe Roman The Roman theatres and theatres and amphitheatresamphitheatres were were two different two different sorts of buildings.sorts of buildings. The Roman TheatreThe Roman Theatre being built in the being built in the shape of shape of a semicirclea semicircle and andThe Roman amphitheatre was The Roman amphitheatre was generally oval.generally oval. The purpose for which each type of The purpose for which each type of theatre was designed was also quite theatre was designed was also quite different. different.

Different types of Roman Different types of Roman Theatres and AmphitheatresTheatres and Amphitheatres

The The Roman theatresRoman theatres were designed for for stage plays were designed for for stage plays The The Amphitheatres Amphitheatres were designed for the greater were designed for the greater

spectacles and shows of gladiators and wild animalsspectacles and shows of gladiators and wild animals The CircusesThe Circuses (circi) such as the famous Circus Maximus (circi) such as the famous Circus Maximus

which was built on a much bigger scale and designed to which was built on a much bigger scale and designed to stage chariot racesstage chariot races

The NaumachiaeThe Naumachiae where places for the shows of sea where places for the shows of sea battlesbattles

The stadia were places in the form of the circus designed The stadia were places in the form of the circus designed for the running of men and horsesfor the running of men and horses

TheThe Xysti Xysti were places constructed like porticos in which were places constructed like porticos in which the wrestlers exercisedthe wrestlers exercised

The The OdeonOdeon was a small Roman Theatre, often roofed, was a small Roman Theatre, often roofed, used for smaller entertainment venues such as performed used for smaller entertainment venues such as performed music poetry readings, debates, or lecturesmusic poetry readings, debates, or lectures

** There were, however, some similarities between the There were, however, some similarities between the different types of Roman theatres such as the seating different types of Roman theatres such as the seating arrangements, styles of stage scenery and props and arrangements, styles of stage scenery and props and awnings. awnings.

Roman theatres derive their basic Roman theatres derive their basic design from the Theatre of Pompey, design from the Theatre of Pompey, the first permanent Roman theatre.the first permanent Roman theatre. Pompey the Great was the first who Pompey the Great was the first who undertook the building of a fixed undertook the building of a fixed theatre, which was built of square theatre, which was built of square stone. Roman Theatres, in the first stone. Roman Theatres, in the first ages of the commonwealth, were only ages of the commonwealth, were only temporary, and composed of wood.temporary, and composed of wood.

The Roman Theatre buildings were The Roman Theatre buildings were designed designed in the shape of a half circle in the shape of a half circle and built on level ground with stadium-and built on level ground with stadium-style seating where the audience was style seating where the audience was raised.raised. The Roman Theatre buildings The Roman Theatre buildings were large and were large and could hold up to 15,000 could hold up to 15,000 people.people. The theatre itself was divided The theatre itself was divided into the stage (orchestra) and the into the stage (orchestra) and the seating section (auditorium).seating section (auditorium).

The Roman theatre did not have a roof instead an awning was pulled over the audience to protect them from the sun or rain. Another innovation was introduced  to the Roman Theatre c 78 B.C - a cooling system which was provided by air blowing over streams of water.

Roman Theatre SeatingRoman Theatre SeatingThe audience seating portion of the Roman theatre The audience seating portion of the Roman theatre was called the Cavea and arrange in wedge-shaped was called the Cavea and arrange in wedge-shaped seating sections. According to Vitruvius the gradus, seating sections. According to Vitruvius the gradus, "are not to be less than twenty inches in height, nor "are not to be less than twenty inches in height, nor

more than twenty-two. Their width must not be more than twenty-two. Their width must not be more than two feet and a half, nor less than two more than two feet and a half, nor less than two

feet." There was a threefold distinction of the seats, feet." There was a threefold distinction of the seats, according to the ordinary division of the people into according to the ordinary division of the people into senators, knights (equites) and the commons. The senators, knights (equites) and the commons. The

first range was called orchestra because in that part first range was called orchestra because in that part of the Greek theatres the dances were performed; of the Greek theatres the dances were performed;

the second range of seating was called the the second range of seating was called the equestria and the third range of seats were called equestria and the third range of seats were called

the popularia.the popularia.

Roman Theatre - The StageRoman Theatre - The Stage

The stage in the Roman Theatre was The stage in the Roman Theatre was raised to about five raised to about five feet high.feet high. The Roman theatre The Roman theatre stage measured 20-40 feet stage measured 20-40 feet deep and 100-300 feet long.deep and 100-300 feet long. The stage was The stage was covered with a covered with a roof.roof. There was a stage house, or There was a stage house, or building, behind the building, behind the stage.stage. The The stage wall was called the ' Frons Scenaestage wall was called the ' Frons Scenae '. There '. There were  doorways to the left and right and a curtained central were  doorways to the left and right and a curtained central doorway from which the actors made their entrances in the doorway from which the actors made their entrances in the Roman Theatre. Roman Theatre. The two doors on either side of the central The two doors on either side of the central door in the Roman scaenae frons  were called the portae door in the Roman scaenae frons  were called the portae hospitales.hospitales. The door on right reserved for second actor, the The door on right reserved for second actor, the left door for person of less importance. In addition there left door for person of less importance. In addition there were 3-5 doors in the rear wall of the stage.  were 3-5 doors in the rear wall of the stage.  The stage wall The stage wall included columns, niches, porticoes, statues all of which included columns, niches, porticoes, statues all of which were brightly painted.were brightly painted. The The dressing rooms were located in dressing rooms were located in the side wingsthe side wings. . The portico or passageway behind the The portico or passageway behind the scaenae (scene building) of a Roman theatre was called the scaenae (scene building) of a Roman theatre was called the portus post scaenas.portus post scaenas.