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What were the main parts of an ancient Greek theatre?
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Western theatre
Anubis weighing the soul of the scribe Ani, from the Egyptian Book of the Dead, c. 1275 bce.
Ancient Greek theatres were primarily composed of three main architectural parts:
- Theatron: Meaning "a place of seeing," this was the auditorium where the audience sat. It was typically a bank of seats arranged in a fan shape, often built into a hillside to provide natural support for the structure.1
- Orchestra: The "place of dancing," this was a flat, circular space at the center of the theatre. It served as the primary performance area for the chorus and, in earlier periods, the actors. It often contained an altar dedicated to the god Dionysus.213
- Skene: Originally a small, temporary wooden hut used for changing masks and costumes, the skene evolved into a permanent building located behind the orchestra. It served as the background for the drama and provided entrances and exits for the performers.412
Additionally, the parodoi (singular: parodos) were the entranceways located between the auditorium and the skene, used by both the chorus and the audience to enter and exit the theatre. In later developments, a raised stage known as the logeion was often added in front of the skene to improve the visibility and audibility of the actors.251