The scaenae frons () is the elaborately decorated permanent architectural background of a Roman theatre stage. The form may have been intended to resemble the facades of imperial palaces. It could support a permanent roof or . The Roman scaenae frons was also used both as the backdrop to the stage and behind as the actors' dressing room. Largely through reconstruction or restoration, there are a number of well-preserved examples.
This form was influenced by Greek theatre, which had an equivalent but simpler skene building (meaning "tent", showing the original nature of it). This led to the stage or space before the skene being called the proscenium. In the Hellenistic period the skene became more elaborate, perhaps with columns, but also used to support painted scenery.Boardman, 1676-168
The Roman scaenae frons was also used both as the backdrop to the stage and behind as the actors' dressing room. It no longer supported painted sets in the Greek manner but relied for effect on elaborate permanent architectural decoration. This achieved a Baroque effect also seen in large nymphaeum and library facades, often with an undulating facade, pushing forward and then retreating.Henig, 57; Boardman, 167-168 All the significant examples date from the Imperial period; the Theatre of Pompey in Rome, completed in 55 BC, was the first stone theatre and probably launched the style.
In smaller theatres it could support a permanent roof, enclosing the whole theatre, and in larger ones awnings over the whole or parts of the theatre, perhaps secured to masts rising above it, for which there is some evidence.Wheeler, 116; Boardman, 262
An inscription in the entablature above the lowest columns often recorded the emperor and others who had helped to fund the construction. A feature often found in the Western Empire, but less so in the Greek-speaking areas, was the row of curved recesses in the face of the front of the stage, as at Sabratha and Leptis Magna.Henig, 57-58
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Sabratha | Sabratha | Libya | Restored before WW2, now "the most illuminating preserved example of the scaenae frons".Boardman, 262 | ||
Emerita Augusta | Mérida | Spain | Theatre of Emerita Augusta | ||
Palmyra | Syria | Roman Theatre at Palmyra | ]] | ||
Gerasa (1 of 2) | Jerash | Jordan | |||
Gerasa (2 of 2) | Jerash | Jordan | |||
Philippopolis | Plovdiv | Bulgaria | Plovdiv Roman theatre | ||
Bostra | Bosra | Syria | Roman Theatre at Bosra, see also photo above | ||
Leptis Magna | Khoms | Libya | |||
Aspendos | Serik, Antalya Province | Turkey | Overall probably the best preserved Roman theatre, but the scaenae frons has lost its decoration, including many statues. | ||
Hierapolis | Pamukkale, Denizli Province | Turkey | In antiquity the impressive scanae frons had columnades running on three levels and the lateral towers. The first storey was restored in 2010-2012 by Italian architects. | ||
Aurasio | Orange | France | The Roman theatre of Orange is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, together with other Roman buildings of the city. Stripped of its decoration. | ||
Acinipo | Spain | ||||
Volaterrae | Volterra | Italy |
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