The Hellenistic Period 330-30 BC

Theaters

The art of theater emerged as an outcome of the festivities held to Athens around the end of the 7th century BC and beginning of the 6th century BC for the god Dionysos to Increase fertility. Organization of these festivities became an annual tradition, and for more people to be able to watch them, wooden benches were placed at the foot of a slope of choice. The festivities held to the center were then watched from here. However, in 498 BC, these wooden benches collapsed and many people died. After this disaster, stone benches were built instead of wooden benches, resulting in the creation of the first theater building Afterwards, the small wooden structure before the theater was developed and transformed into a stage, The stage gained Its typical form from the 3rd century BC onwards and a background was created tor the actors.

Previously performed by a single person, the works of the drama authors were later staged with the addition of Hie chorus and other individuals.

The first dramatic performances were staged to the 5th century BC to Athens in Piraeus, and in the 4th century BC in Epidauros, whereas they also started to be performed In Anatolia in Priene and Magnesia, at the beginning of the 3:i century BC. in Ephesos, and at the beginning of the 2nd century BC in Pergamon. The first plays were in a dance form and were staged before the seats. After the construction of the stage building, they started to be performed on the proskenion section of the stage. Until the century BC, the construction of the theaters was attempted outside of the cities. In cases where they had to be built inside the city, special consideration was given so that they would be built at an independent location. The Hellenistic theaters were rested on a slope and special attention was given so that a beautiful view would be seen from the seats. Furthermore, mobile wooden stages were also used, like in the Pergamon theater.

The type of stone, travertine or marble materials used m the construction ol the theaters were chosen depending on the situation of the region. The first theater samples in Anatolia made from stone belong to the end of the 3rd century BC. Because the previous ones were wooden, they (fid not survive to the present time. The most beautiful examples of the theaters leaning against a slope, as characterized by the Hellenistic Period, are seen in Anatolia in the ancient cities such as Pergamott, Ephesos. MUetos, Phene. In these theaters, the stage was one-storey, the proskemon was narrow and high, whereas the orchestra section was made from earth. Theater structures went through great changes during the Roman Period, which is subsequent to the Hellenistic Period. This will be discussed separately under the Roman section.