Life in the Roman world of Nero and StPaul . st in esteem stood the plays given onthe theatrical stage. Mention has been made in aprevious chapter of the three great theatres ofRome, one of them said, though somewhat incredibly,to be capable of holding 40,000 spectators. Theirshape and arrangement have already been hinted structures of a similar kind existed in all thegreat romanized towns of Italy and other at Orange in France is still well preserved, and twoof smaller dimensions — one without a roof for plays,and one roofed for musical performances — are among 266 LIFE
Life in the Roman world of Nero and StPaul . st in esteem stood the plays given onthe theatrical stage. Mention has been made in aprevious chapter of the three great theatres ofRome, one of them said, though somewhat incredibly,to be capable of holding 40,000 spectators. Theirshape and arrangement have already been hinted structures of a similar kind existed in all thegreat romanized towns of Italy and other at Orange in France is still well preserved, and twoof smaller dimensions — one without a roof for plays,and one roofed for musical performances — are among 266 LIFE IN THE ROMAN WORLD the most easily remembered of the remains extant atPompeii. In the Grecian half of the empire the theatreswere not essentially different, the chief distinguishingfeature being that, while the Roman auditorium formedhalf a circle, that of the Greek type formed over two-thirds. In the Roman type the level semicircle infront of the stage, from which we derive the nameorchestra, was occupied by the chairs of the Fig. 80. — Theatre at Aspendus. and the fourteen tiers of stone seats immediatelybehind them by the knights; certain sections werealso set apart for special classes, one being for soldiers,one for boys not yet of age, and one for women,whose presence was not encouraged, and who, exceptat the tragedies, would have shown more modestyby staying away. Facing the seats is a stage, higherthan among the Greeks, but somewhat lower than itis commonly made in modern times; and at the backof the stage is a wall architecturally adorned to XV HOLIDAYS AND AMUSEMENTS 267 represent a house or palace front, and containingone central and two side doors, which served forseparate purposes conventionally understood. Overthe stage is a roof, which slopes backward to join thewall. The entrances to the ordinary tiers of seatsare from openings reached by stairs from the outsidearcade sitrrounding the building; those to the levelorchestra are from right and left
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