Theatre In Pompeii

Question 1

Dates, construction…

Answer 1

-built late 3rd century BCE to 2nd century BCE, into natural hill
-capacity- 4.000 to 5.000 spectators
-one of first permanent stone theatres in Roman Empire
-around 2BCE Holconius Rufus and Holconius Celer renovated theatre, presented as gift to city of Pompeii

Question 2

Seating area- cavea

Answer 2

-ima (lowermost)- for senators, nobility: wider tiers, not as steep, separated by short wall
-media- middle class
-summa- plebeians (poor citizens) and women

Question 3

Roman drama- tragedy and comedy

Answer 3

-tragedies and comedies both influenced by Greek dramatists of 5th-4th century BCE
-by 2nd century BCE drama established in Rome, guild of writers collegium poetarum (but first permanent theatre in Rome 55BCE)
-dramatic performances popular enough to be included in ludi-public festivals

Question 4

Actors

Answer 4

-exclusively male
-without full political and civic rights, low social status
-often slaves
-specialised in either tragedy or comedy

Question 5

Masks

Answer 5

-made of painted linen, wood, cork
-covered whole head and had hair
-exaggerated expressions helped define characters of actors
-allowed actors to play more than one role or gender
-helped audience members in distant seats see specific characteristics
-project sound like small megaphone with big mouth opening

Question 6

Masks for comedy

Answer 6

-wide grin, furrowed brow, bald head
-e.g; senex, grotesque features
-wreath with ivy leaves and cluster of berries

Question 7

Costumes- ornamental

Answer 7

-indicate social status, gender and age of character
-e.g: a purple, decorated robe identified rich man, soldiers wore cloaks, slaves short tunics
-when depicting women, actors wore body stockings to make bodies appear feminine
-actors in tragedy were wearing kothornoi, raised platform shoes, to differentiate social class and important of character

Question 8

Props

Answer 8

-crown- king
-lyre- musician
-walking stick- suggest age, old man
-a caduceus (staff)- messenger
-spears and helmets- military men

Question 9

Special props

Answer 9

-ekkyklema: large, wheeled platform could be rolled out to display scenes that had taken place beyond view of spectators (usually violent acts since those never took place on stage)

-mechane: crane-like device used to lift actors, allowing performers to appear in air or to enter dramatically from behind the scene (common method of portraying gods)

Question 10

Roman tragedy

Answer 10

-tragedy plots are concerned with big life questions regarding death, gods and mortals, justice, family, loyalty, fate…

-roman tragic playwrights- Ennius (2nd BCE), Pacuvius (2nd BCE), Accius (1st BCE) and Seneca (1st CE)

-Seneca- tragedies which reflected human soul, using exaggeration and monologues to express inner thoughts