Ancient Theater in Turkey
 Glossary

 

  

     

Amphitheatre

  

 

   

 

A typical example of an amphitheatre is the Colosseum (or Flavian Amphitheatre) in Rome.

  
   

An amphitheatre (Greek: amphi = around ...) is a freestanding round theatre of antiquity, typically without a closed roof, but may be equipped with a sun sail. Around a round or oval arena, rows of seats gradually rose.

  
   
   

Roman Theatre

  
   

 

A typical example of a purely Roman theatre is the theatre of Aspendos (photo)

 
   

1  Cavea

  7 Parodoi

2  Summa Cavea

  8 Orchestra
3  Diazoma  9 Tribunalia
4  Portikus 10 Porta Hospitalia
5  Scaena 11 Porta Regia
6  Scaena frons  
 
   

Theatres of Roman antiquity are horseshoe-shaped open-air theatres. In Turkey, many of the originally Greek-Hellenistic theatres were converted into Roman theatres during the Roman Empire. This is why most of the theatres are built on a natural slope.
An example of a freestanding Roman theatre is the theatre of Tlos or the one in Side near Manavgat.

A significant improvement in acoustics was achieved by vaulting over the lateral entrances to the auditorium (7 = parodoi), so that a completely enclosed space was created.

  
   

Cavea

The auditorium divided into Ima Cavea, the lower rank, the Summa Cavea, the upper rank. In large theatres, such as Ephesus, there is a middle tier, the Media Cavea
   

Summa Cavea

 The top rank,
was reserved for the lowest social strata
   

Diazoma

Diazoma is the name given to one of the wide circuits that divided the rows of seats into two or three tiers. The 1.80 m wide corridors were closed at the back by a 90 cm high wall above which the next tier rose
   

Portikus

 Circumferential portico above the Summa Cavea
   

Scaena

 The Stage House
   
Scaena frons stage wall
the side of the stage facing the spectator
   
Orchestra semicircular level directly in front of the stage
   
Parodoi the two side entrances to the orchestra. Built over in Roman theatres
   
Tribunalia

Proszenium loge,
Loge for prominent personalities, dignitaries, etc. Mostly these lodges had their own access
   
Porta Hospitalia The two side entrances from the stage to the stage house
   
Porta Regia The middle entrance from the stage to the stage house
 
   
   

Greek Theatre

  
   

 

  
   

1  Analemmata

  7  Pinakes

2  Kerkides

  8  Thyromata
3  Diazomata  9  Paradoi
4  Klimakes 10 Prohedrie
5  Scene 11 Thymele
6  Proskerion  
 
   

Greek (Hellenistic) antiquity theatres are horseshoe-shaped open-air theatres built into a slope. In the opening of the auditorium, an initially wooden stage was built, on whose raised stage platform (proskenion) the actors acted in front of a stage wall (scene). The areas between the columns of the proskenion were used for stage sets and scenery.

  
   

Koilon

The auditorium
   

Analemmata

 The outer cheeks of the auditorium
   

Kerkides

 Wedge-shaped field
   
Diazomata Diazomata is the name given to one of the wide circuits that divided the rows of seats into two or three tiers.
   
Klimakes Steps, stairs
   
Scene The Stage House
   
Proskerion The stage porch
   
 Pinakes Space between the supporting columns of the Proskerion
   
Orchestra circular level directly in front of the stage, playing area for choir and actors
   
Thyromata Door opening to the stage
   
Paradoi the two side entrances to the auditorium
   
Prohedrie Honorary seats for high-ranking personalities
   
Thymele an altar-shaped, square elevation rising on steps in the central axis of the orchestra on which the conductor conducted. Also Bema = speaker platform
 
   

 

  

 

Honorary seat in the Greek theatre of Priene

  
   

 

The Greek Theatre of Antiphellos (Kaş)

    
     
     
Photos: @chim    
Translation aid: www.DeepL.com/Translator    
Source: Wikipedia and others