Vitruvius and Roman Theater Design

Because few, if any, Roman theaters were designed as Vitruvius (De Arch. 5. 6. 1) prescribes, attempts have been made to deduce how Roman architects did in fact lay out their theaters. This paper is prompted by one such attempt (D. Small, AJA 87 [1983] 55-68) and argues that the method proposed is i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:American journal of archaeology 1990-04, Vol.94 (2), p.249-258
Main Author: Sear, Frank B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Archaeological methods
Archaeology
Architectural design
Architecture
Buildings
Circles
Orchestras
Parallel lines
Roman civilization
Staircases
Theater
Theater design
Vitruvius (Marcus Pollio Vitruvius)
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Summary:Because few, if any, Roman theaters were designed as Vitruvius (De Arch. 5. 6. 1) prescribes, attempts have been made to deduce how Roman architects did in fact lay out their theaters. This paper is prompted by one such attempt (D. Small, AJA 87 [1983] 55-68) and argues that the method proposed is invalid. The Vitruvian theater is examined in its historical context and the conclusion is reached that architects of the early Empire modified but did not abandon Vitruvius's method. The author tentatively offers a method of designing theaters that accords with the archaeological evidence and is close to the Vitruvian model.
ISSN:0002-9114
1939-828X
DOI:10.2307/505952