What Is the Seating Area in a Greek Theatre Called?

Greek Theatre|Theater

The seating area in a Greek theatre is called the theatron. The term theatron is derived from two Greek words meaning “seeing place”. It was originally used to describe the area of a theatre where people watched plays and other performances.

The design of a Greek theatre was based on an ancient semi-circular form, with tiers of seats that curved around a central stage. Theatres were built into hillside slopes so that spectators could look down upon the performance taking place in a large open-air auditorium known as an orchestra. The orchestra was a circular or semi-circular space, located at the bottom of the theatre, which served as the focal point for performances.

The theatron was located above and around this orchestra, and it provided seating for up to 15,000 people. It consisted of three distinct areas: a lower level (the prohedria), an upper level (the ephedra), and an uppermost level (the coryceum).

The lower level was reserved for dignitaries and important guests, while the upper two levels were open to all spectators. Each section of seats was divided into wedge-shaped sections called cunei, with each cuneus containing up to 24 rows of seats.

The most distinctive feature of the Greek theatre was its use of theatrical masks – large masks worn by actors that represented characters and conveyed their emotions during performances. These masks were placed on wooden frames located at either side of the stage known as “skene” – which could also be used for props during scenes.

Theatres have been used since ancient times as places where people can come together to enjoy performances and engage in entertainment and culture – something that still continues today in modern theatres around the world. Although some elements may have changed over time, much has stayed true to its ancient roots: like its seating area referred to as “theatron” – still providing audiences with an immersive experience even more than two thousand years later!

Conclusion:
In summary, the seating area in a Greek theatre is called ‘theatron’ – derived from two Greek words meaning “seeing place” – which provides seating for up to 15,000 people over three tiers: prohedria (lower level), ephedra (upper level) and coryceum (uppermost level). This distinctive feature still remains today in modern theatres around the world, providing audiences with an immersive experience even more than two thousand years later!