1. Theatre at Leptis Magna

2. Greek
Roman
Shakespearean

3. Roman features Compare with Greek Theatre Enclosed building
Several levels of exterior arches / interior seating
Multi-level stage building
Decorated stage and stage building
Barrel vaults / Vomitoria underseats
Use of Velarium
Compare with Greek Theatre

4. Photo: Sebastia Giralt (Flickr – Creative Commons)

5. Photo: Sebastia Giralt (Flickr – Creative Commons)

6. Theatre at Leptis Magna
Date: 1-2AD (Age of Augustus)
Location: Leptis Magna, North Africa
Commissioned by: Annobal Rufus, a local merchant. His name appears on an inscription.

8. When the father of the fatherland, Caesar Augustus, son of the deified [Caesar], was pontifex maximus, vested with the tribunician power for the twenty-fourth time, being consul for the thirteenth time, Annobal Rufus, the adorner of his country and lover of concord, priest, suffete, prefect of the sacred objects, the son of Himilco Tapapius, took care to build this at his own expense, and dedicated it. The Latin text begins with the names and titles of the emperor (in this case Augustus). None of these are given in the Punic text.
Photo: Sebastia Giralt (Flickr – Creative Commons)
Photo: Sebastia Giralt (Flickr)

9. Photo: Sebastia Giralt (Flickr – Creative Commons)

10. The Cavea (seating) It is semi-circular
Seating is divided up into wedge-shaped sections separated by staircases.
Ambulatories (passageways) divide the seating into three levels

11. The Cavea (cont’d) Portico featuring marble Corinthian columns.
In the middle of the portico there is a temple to Ceres-Augusta.
Vomitoria (underseat passageways) for entry and exit

12. Three levels of seating:
The UPPER LEVEL rests on a massive vaulted sub-structure.
The MIDDLE LEVEL is built on an artificial bank.
The LOWER LEVEL rests upon a natural bank.
(Also VIP seating could be added in the five front rows)

13. Photo: Sebastia Giralt (Flickr Creative Commons)

14. Photo: Sebastia Giralt (Flickr Creative Commons)

15. Video Clip is ‘theatre_panorama’

16. The Orchestra Semi-circular (unlike Greek orchestra – full circle)
Tribunalia (viewing boxes) were built above VIP entrances for most important citizens
Vaulted VIP entrances
Stone wall separated cavea from orchestra
Altar to unknown god

17. The Pulpitum and Proscaenium
Pulpitum (stage) was wooden
Statues of Hercules and Dionysus, patrons of the city
Niches in Proscaenium (stage front) would have held statues

18. The Scaena – Stage Building
Scaena is whole stage building
Scaenae frons is the stage backdrop. It had 3 tiers of columns – the same height as the cavea)
Central of 3 semi-circular recesses for entrance/exit of actors

21. Cavea
Pulpitum
Orchestra
Altar
Scaena
Scaenae Frons
Tribunalia
Vomitoria
Ambulatories
Portico
Temple to Ceres-Augusta
Temple to the Deified Emperors
Statues of patron gods.
Proscaenium

22. Later Additions to the Theatre
Tribunalia
Altar
Temple to Ceres-Augusta (Ceres of the Emperors)
Temple to Deified Emperors
limestone columns on scaena frons

23. The Temple Divi Augusta
Photo: Sebastia Giralt (Flickr Creative Commons)
Photo: Sebastia Giralt (Flickr)

24. Religious Features
Key Understanding: The additions to the Theatre at Leptis Magna were for religious purposes, and/or to promote the greatness of the Roman Empire, its religion and its Emperors in this far-off Roman colony.

26. 1___________
- the tiered seating area.
2_____________
- the semi-circular lower floor area by the proscaenium.
3_____________
- the facade at the front of the stage.
5__________
- the stage building itself, where the actors could prepare and props were stored.
4___________
- corridors into the theatre for exit and entry
7________________
- the front of the stage building, which provided a backdrop and entry and exit points for actors.
6__________
- the raised stage platform for acting on.