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Video: Comparing the Roman Colosseum & the Theater at Epidaurus
Instructor
Christopher Muscato
Show bio
Chris has a master's degree in history and teaches at the University of Northern Colorado.
Video Summary for Theater at Epidaurus
This video explores the ancient Theater at Epidaurus, a remarkable Greek architectural achievement built around 340 BC by Polykleitos the Younger.
The theater could accommodate up to 14,000 spectators and is renowned for its perfect symmetry and exceptional acoustics that allow normal speech to be heard clearly from any seat.
Unlike Roman theaters that used concrete and arches, the Theater at Epidaurus was constructed entirely of stone and utilized the natural landscape as a backdrop.
Greek theatrical performances held here focused on dramas and comedies rather than violent entertainment, with stories often drawing from mythology and history.
- The theater represented Greece's golden age of dramatic arts
- Performances typically included major tragedies interspersed with shorter comic plays
- Annual competitions were held to determine the best plays
- The Theater at Epidaurus remains one of the most acoustically perfect ancient venues in the world
