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THE ODEUM |
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The far side of the Prytaneum adjoins The Odeum. This small but beautiful theatre follows much the same pattern as the Great Theatre with regards to basic lay-out. The major difference between the two is that the Odeum was roofed.
Built into the slope of the hill, it could seat 2,200 people. The upper closed part of the building was entered by two side doors. The twenty-three rows of seats were divided by a diazoma into two sections, thirteen below and ten above. The lower seats seem to have been wider than those above. The highest part of the Odeum was decorated with Corinthian columns made of red granite. The Odeum was used for poetry-readings, small concerts and prize-giving ceremonies. In Hellenistic times, theatres and odeums were as important as temples in the life of the people. Celebrations in the Odeon formed a large part of the festivals of Artemis.
Enjoyment for the Romans meant food, games and spectacles. The cry of the decadent people for "Bread and Circuses" is witness to the countless mad spectacles that were provided. The Odeum's stage was not in fact very high but gave the impression of being richly ornamented with inscriptions and carving. The Odeon was erected around 150 AD by Publius Vedius Antonius and his wife Flavia Papiana. The close proximity of the Prytaneum, linked with the fact that it was covered, suggests that the Odeum was also used as a council chamber. |
