Method (a) is illustrated at Ephesus (Figs. [24] and [59-62]),[218] where the first permanent scene-building was built about 300 B.C. ([Fig. 60]). The dotted lines show the position of the stone proscenium, eight and a half feet high and nine feet ten inches deep, which was erected in the first century B.C. ([Fig. 61]). There were no parascenia. The seven openings (θυρώματα) in the episcenium furnish an interesting parallel to the five at Oropus (see [p. 109], above). In the last half of the first century A.D. this structure was converted into a Graeco-Roman type (Figs. [24] and [62]). The new logium was left of the same height as the old proscenium, but was made nearly twenty feet deep; and at certain points this depth received a considerable accession from the recesses of the new proscenium ([Fig. 59]). These changes were made at the expense of the orchestra, which derived some compensation from the fact that several rows of the lowest seats were removed; as a result the orchestra became a sort of pit ([Fig. 24]). The hyposcenium was plain and was pierced by three doors leading into the orchestra. The top story of the proscenium in [Fig. 59] was not added until the third century A.D.
Fig. 60.—Ground Plan of the Early Hellenistic Theater at Ephesus
Fig. 61.—The Later Hellenistic Theater at Ephesus: Above, Elevation of Proscenium and Episcenium; Below, Ground Plan of Proscenium and Parodi.
Method (b) was employed at Priene (Figs. [63 f.]).[219] This theater enjoys the distinction of being the only one in which an altar was found, and this was not situated in the center of the orchestra, as the foundations at Athens and Epidaurus would seem to indicate was the case there, but on its circumference. Seats of honor were placed in the orchestra, as at Oropus (see [p. 108], above); but in Roman times new seats for dignitaries were erected in the center of the fifth row of seats ([Fig. 63]). The proscenium was of the same age as the scene-building and belongs to the third century B.C. At the Graeco-Roman rebuilding the columns of this proscenium were left standing, but the intercolumniations, except the three which served as doors, were walled up. The front wall of the Hellenistic episcenium was torn down and a new proscenium was built about six and a half feet farther back (see cross-hatched wall in [Fig. 63]).
Fig. 62.—Ground Plan of the Graeco-Roman Theater at Ephesus