Les théâtres antiques et leurs entrées

Overview & Synopsis

The main entrances to the orchestra and tiers in Greek and Roman theatres and odeons were shared by both performers and spectators. Essential to the use of the monuments, they have been largely neglected since, like any passageway, they are defined by a void. No work has been devoted entirely to them. No overview of ancient theatre has included a chapter tracing its history.The present volume attempts to fill this gap by considering the evolution of these accesses from the birth of Greek theatre to the death of Roman theatre, from Portugal to the Near East. It includes seven regional overviews and as many monographic presentations, organized into three geographical areas: the East, Italy and Hispania, Gaul and Germania.These contributions show the essential importance of these passages in the functioning of ancient performance buildings and the regional diversity of their configuration. They call into question the very relevance of the terms “parodos” and “aditus”, highlighting the standards they convey in architectural analysis.