Theatre of Dionysos, orchestra




The first theatre, the Theatre of Dionysos, was built for the competition of the Dionysia, in the 6th century BC. At first the audience sat on the grassy slopes at the bottom of the Acropolis. Then wooden seats and a stage were added. In the 4th century BC it was converted to stone. From this time stone theatres were built all over the Greek world.

Theatre at Delphi (the Sanctuary of Apollo) 


All Greek theatres had basically the same design. They had a circular or semi-circular area called the orchestra (which is where we get our word from). This is where the chorus would sing and dance (and sometimes the actors).



Behind this was a stage, above the level of the orchestra. This was called the skene (which is where we get the word scene from). It could have several entrances, and after Sophocles it was painted at the back to show scenery.



The Audience

The audience sat on rows of stone seats which curved round the orchestra and rose in tiers. Large numbers of people could sit in these seats. The theatre at Delphi sat 5,000, Epidauros sat 14,000, and Ephesos sat 24,000.









The audience was mainly men. It cost 2 obols to enter - that is, a day's wage for a poor person. Refreshments were provided and the audience would eat and drink while the performances were going on.

The acoustics were excellent in these theatres. At Epidauros, even at the back, 55 rows up, you can hear a voice clearly. You can even hear a coin drop down in the orchestra!

Theatre of Dionysos, front row

The Front Row

The front row of seats was for important persons - magistrates, officials, and priests. When they came of age, the sons of men killed in wars were also allowed to sit in the front row, in their suits of armour provided by the state. The best seat of all, in the middle, was the the priest of Dionysos. The pictures show how fancy these seats were.

Epidauros, view from the top