The interplay of architecture and acoustics is remarkable in ancient Greek and Roman theaters. Frequently they are nowadays lively performance spaces and the knowledge of the sound field inside them is still an issue of relevant importance. Even if the transition from Greek to Roman theaters can be described with a great architectural detail, a comprehensive and objective approach to the two types of spaces from the acoustical point of view is available at present only as a computer model study [P. Chourmouziadou and J. Kang, “Acoustic evolution of ancient Greek and Roman theaters,” Appl. Acoust. 69, re (2007)]. This work addresses the same topic from the experimental point of view, and its aim is to provide a basis to the acoustical evolution from Greek to Roman theater design. First, by means of in situ and scale model measurements, the most important features of the sound field in ancient theaters are clarified and discussed. Then it has been possible to match quantitatively the role of some remarkable architectural design variables with acoustics, and it is seen how this criterion can be used effectively to define different groups of ancient theaters. Finally some more specific wave phenomena are addressed and discussed.
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September 2008
September 01 2008
On the acoustics of ancient Greek and Roman theaters
Andrea Farnetani;
Andrea Farnetani
a)
Dipartimento di Ingegneria,
Università degli Studi di Ferrara
, via Saragat, 1-44100 Ferrara, Italy
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Nicola Prodi;
Nicola Prodi
Dipartimento di Ingegneria,
Università degli Studi di Ferrara
, via Saragat, 1-44100 Ferrara, Italy
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Roberto Pompoli
Roberto Pompoli
Dipartimento di Ingegneria,
Università degli Studi di Ferrara
, via Saragat, 1-44100 Ferrara, Italy
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a)
Electronic mail: andrea.farnetani@unife.it
J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 124, 1557–1567 (2008)
Article history
Received:
May 22 2007
Accepted:
June 04 2008
Citation
Andrea Farnetani, Nicola Prodi, Roberto Pompoli; On the acoustics of ancient Greek and Roman theaters. J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 1 September 2008; 124 (3): 1557–1567. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.2951604
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