Theater at Epidaurus and Colosseum: Similarities and Differences

The theater of Epidaurus

The ancient theater of Epidaurus in Argolis is located in the archaeological site of Asklepios. Asklepion of Epidaurus was the great Panhellenic sanctuaries of antiquity. The buildings of Asklepios, temples, sports, theater, baths, etc., spread in a narrow mountain valley surrounded by mountains, leaving only one outlet to the sea (Darling, p. 25). Epidaurus was made during the Greek of 1821, which proclaimed the independence of the Greek nation in March 1826.

The architectural form of the scene of the theater of Epidaurus shows that it was intended for the presentation of dramas with the conventional form finalized in Athens during the 5th century BC. Moreover, unlike what happened in other theaters of classical and Hellenistic periods, this is not reformed during Roman times so retained its original form until the end of antiquity. The prevailing scientific view was constructed in two distinct phases. The first place belongs to the late 4th century BC century on the end of the first peak of Asclepius who was accompanied by significant structural enhancement. The second coincides with the mid-2nd BC century.

The Architecture

The theater is the best preserved building of Asklepios at Epidaurus. In this we find the typical tripartite structure of the Hellenistic theater in the ideal expression: auditorium, orchestra, stage building. The orchestra is perfectly circular, with a floor of beaten earth encased in stone perimeter ring. Its diameter is 19.5 meters and is surrounded by an open sewer for disposal of rain water flowing from the auditorium. The auditorium of the theater is perfectly adapted to the natural curve of the northern slope of Mount Kynortio inclined approximately 26 degrees (Darling, p. 31). It consists of two parts separated by a perimeter corridor: the lowest has 34 rows of seats and the ...