Vitruvius' DE ARCHITECTURA

PERIAKTOI AND ROMAN THEATER ARCHITECTURE

From De Architectura (source: Morgan's De Architectura http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20239/20239-h/images/038a.jpg)

When Marcus Vitruvius Pollio completed his ten volume De Architectura, around 13 B.C., he dedicated his work to Augustus. Arguably it made an impression, as it is the only contemporary source on classical architecture to survive (except, alas, for the illustrations...). Today, the work is available online here: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20239/20239-h/29239-h.htm.

In the 5th book this engineer, architect, and writer focuses on Greek and Roman theater architecture, and as Nagler notes, "The sections on scenery and scene shifting by means of triangular prisms (periaktoi) had far-reaching consequences when the Renaissance scholars and designers began to study the Latin text upon its publication in 1486" (22).  Nicola Sabbatini famously drew ideas from Vitruvius' work.  You can see the periaktoi as tiny little trianges in the image above.

The "scaena" itself displays the following scheme. In the centre are double doors decorated like those of a royal palace. At the right and left are the doors of the guest chambers. Beyond are spaces provided for decoration—places that the Greeks call περιἁκτοι, because in these places are triangular pieces of machinery (Δ, Δ) which revolve, each having three decorated faces. When the play is to be changed, or when gods enter to the accompaniment of sudden claps of thunder, these may be revolved and present a face differently decorated. Beyond these places are the projecting wings which afford entrances to the stage, one from the forum, the other from abroad. (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20239/20239-h/29239-h.htm#Page_38)


The section on the types of scenery for different genres of play is also useful:

There are three kinds of scenes, one called the tragic, second, the comic, third, the satyric. Their decorations are different and unlike each other in scheme. Tragic scenes are delineated with columns, pediments, statues, and other objects suited to kings; comic scenes exhibit private dwellings, with balconies and views representing rows of windows, after the manner of ordinary dwellings; satyric scenes are decorated with trees, caverns, mountains, and other rustic objects delineated in landscape style. 
(http://www.gutenberg.org/files/20239/20239-h/29239-h.htm#Page_38)

Clearly the periaktoi is a device we still see and use (consider the changing highway billboards, that flip from side to side to show different images!). Here is a link to Furttenback's use of periaktoi in 1640.

Pages by Mrs. D

"One of the most admirable things about history is, that almost as a rule, we get as much information out of what it does not say as we get out of what it does say. . . . History is a frog; half of it is submerged, but he knows it is there, and he knows the shape of it."

"The Secret History of Eddypus", Mark Twain