There was likewise a Second rank of Pillars upon the Wings, which made high Galleries, and these Second rank of Pillars were placed upon a Pedestal in the form of a Partition, high enough to hinder those that were in the high Galleries from being seen by those that were below.
At the End of every Basilica, there was a high and great Hall called Chalcidiques, which were joyned one to another by high Galleries: they served the Spectators while Justice was distributed.
The Theaters were composed of three parts, viz. The Steps or Degrees, which were instead of Seats for the Spectators: they were disposed in a Semi-circle, and they closed a void space in the middle and at the bottom of the whole Theater, which was called the Orchestra.
The Orchestra was made in the Græcian Theatre, to Dance the Ballets. Lib. 5.
Chap. 6. The Senators were placed in that of the Romans, because the Ballets were Danced upon the Scene.
Above and quite round the Steps Lib. 5.
Chap. 6.
Lib. 5.
Chap. 6. or Degrees was a Portico of Pillars, the Steps being separated by divers Palliers or Landing and Resting places which went round, and by streight passages which went ascending from one Palliere or Landing place to another; so that the ways which led from the second Palliere to the third, parted betwixt those of the first, and ended betwixt those of the third. The Steps or Degrees were 14 or 15 Inches high, and from 28 to 30 broad.
Under the Degrees, above every Palliere, there were in the great Theaters 13 Chambers, in which were Vessels of Brass, set to several Tunes, or Tones; which by their Echo augmented the Voice of the Players. The Scene or Stage, was composed of the Pulpit, the Proscenium and the Parascenium. The Pulpit was the place where the Actors played: it was raised not above five Foot at the most above the Orchestra, or Pit.
The Proscenium was the Front of the Stage, which was adorned with Pillars of several sorts one above another. These Orders were so proportioned, that the second was a fourth part lesser than the first. The third diminishing according to the same Proportion.
The Front had three Gates, that in the middle which was the greatest was called the Royal Gate, the two others were called the Gates of Strangers.
These three Gates were closed with Machines, made in a Triangle, and composed of three Fronts or Faces well Painted, to represent Buildings Lib. 5. in Perspective; they served for the changing of the Scenes, when these Machines were turned. And the Paintings represented three sorts of Buildings, which made three sorts of Scenes, viz. The Tragick by Magnificent Pallaces, the Comick by Private Houses, the Satyrical (i. e. the Pastoral) by Fields and Groves.
The Parascenium or Postscenium was the hinder part of the Theater, and the place whither the Actors retired and dressed themselves, and had their Rehearsals, and where the Machines were kept. Near the Theaters, were Publick Walks, in length a Stadium, which is about 90 Perches. There were Trees planted, and round about it were double Porticos, which were every one as broad as the Pillars on the out-side were high; for those within were higher by a fifth part, than those without, and they were likewise of a different Order; for those without were of the Dorick Order, and those within of the Ionick or Corinthian.