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CLC 5 Culture Notes

Theater performances in ancient Rome took place in large outdoor theaters that could accommodate thousands. The stage, known as the scaena, faced the semicircular seating area known as the cavea, with a section of reserved seats in the front for officials. Behind the stage was the scaena frōns, a decorated building with columns and niches. Plays were performed during festivals by actors who were often slaves or freedmen and were recognized by their masks and colored wigs denoting different characters. The earliest permanent theater in Rome was built in 55 BC by Pompey the Great.

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Gabriela Mccawley
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46 views

CLC 5 Culture Notes

Theater performances in ancient Rome took place in large outdoor theaters that could accommodate thousands. The stage, known as the scaena, faced the semicircular seating area known as the cavea, with a section of reserved seats in the front for officials. Behind the stage was the scaena frōns, a decorated building with columns and niches. Plays were performed during festivals by actors who were often slaves or freedmen and were recognized by their masks and colored wigs denoting different characters. The earliest permanent theater in Rome was built in 55 BC by Pompey the Great.

Uploaded by

Gabriela Mccawley
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Stage 5 Culture Notes

Reserved
seats for
important
officials

Seating area

orchstra

cavea

scaena

scaena frns

Stage

Building behind the stage that was


decorated with columns and niches

Plays were performed during festivals.

2 Theaters in Pompeii
Large Theater could accommodate up to
5,000 people
Small Theater  Odeon

Large Theater

Small Theater

Actors
Slaves (Greek) and freedmen (former
slaves)
Recognized characters by masks and wigs

Some common characters


Red wigs / clothing  slaves
White wigs  old men

In Rome, the 1st


permanent theater was
built in 55 BC by
Pompey the Great.
* Julius Caesar was
assassinated at the theater of
Pompey on the Ides of March
(March 15th), 44 BC

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