THEATERS

Theaters were virtually unknown in Rome throughout much of the Republic, owing to the absence of organized theatrical performances until the late third century b. c.e. Around 240 b. c.e., a drama was given in the circus, but the stage was torn down after each performance. subsequently, senatorial opposition made construction of a permanent theater with seats very difficult. Even after the conquest of Greece and the importation of Hellenic culture, senators still opposed theaters, and such standing structures were not permitted.

Aemilius Scaurus, in 58 b. c.e., erected a wooden theater complete with nearly 80,000 seats and thousands of bronze statues. pompey the great took the decisive step in 55 B. C.E. of building a theater out of stone (the curia pompey). In 44 b. c.e., Julius caesar was stabbed to death in the Curia Pompey when the senate met there because of the unavailability of their normal curia. A fire broke out in 22 C. E. but was extinguished quickly by the Praetorian Prefect sejanus, who also saved the surrounding buildings, receiving a statue from Emperor Tiberius, who helped repair the damage. Cornelius Balbus funded a second stone theater in 13 b. c.e. but was overshadowed by Augustus, who dedicated in the same year the Theater of Marcellus, named after his nephew who died in 23 b. c.e.

These were the main examples of stone theaters in the empire; from then on, most would be constructed out of wood.

The Roman theater was usually in the shape of a semicircle, with seats sectioned off for the various levels of society Two balconies over the cavea (where the musicians played) were for the emperors and their retinues, including the Vestal Virgins. Other rows were for senators, knights, ambassadors, and the rest of Roman society As with other public spectacles, admission was free, entry being gained by the tesserae, or tickets, handed out to the public by the government.