The Encyclopedia britannica; a dictionary of arts, sciences, and general literatureWith new maps, and original American articles by eminent writersWith American revisions and additions, bringing each volume up to date . ention of a building specially devised for dramaticrepresentations was due to the Athenians (see Drama).At first representations at the Dionysiac festivals were heldon temporary wooden platforms; an accident, however,which occurred in 500 induced the Athenians to beginthe construction of a permanent buQding. This first theatrewas not completed till 340 , and during the
The Encyclopedia britannica; a dictionary of arts, sciences, and general literatureWith new maps, and original American articles by eminent writersWith American revisions and additions, bringing each volume up to date . ention of a building specially devised for dramaticrepresentations was due to the Athenians (see Drama).At first representations at the Dionysiac festivals were heldon temporary wooden platforms; an accident, however,which occurred in 500 induced the Athenians to beginthe construction of a permanent buQding. This first theatrewas not completed till 340 , and during the interval alarge number of theatres, designed on the same model, hadbeen erected in many towns of Greece and Asia Minor,though insome cases, as at Sparta, they were vised forasfemblies of the people and dances rather than, fordramatic performances. : Thegreat Dionysiac theatre atAthens was placed in the Lenaeum, an enclostire sacred toDionysus, and its auditorium is scooped out of the rock atthe base of the Acropolis on its south-east side. A similarposition on the slope of a hill was always chosen by theGreeks, and it-was not till the 1st century thattheatres were built by the Romans on a level site. \» ^. 190 Fio. 1.—Plan of the Theatre at Myra. Fig. 1 shows the plan of the existing theatre at Myra,in the south-east of Lyoia, which, though late in date, isbuilt after the old Greek model.^ The seats for theaudience are arranged in concentric tiers, rising like st :p8one above the other (see fig. 2); these mainly rest on acavity excavatedin the hillside,and the wholespace occupied bythe spectators wascalled^the koiXov(Latcafea). Abouthalf-way up theslope is an encirc-ling passage (8ia-^ui/io, prasdnclio).
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