PROHEDRIA
As mentioned earlier, the first few rows at the
bottom of the viewing area just before the orchestra were reserved
for state officials and public benefactors such as victorious generals
and athletes. Foreign dignitaries could also be given this privilege.
Some offices conferred this honor on the holder, while the Assembly could
vote it for certain individuals. This privilege is called prohedria
(‘front-seating’),
a term which referred both to the privilege and the location of the seat.
The marble prohedria is still visible in theater of Dionysus today.
As we saw earlier, at the center is the ornate throne of the priest of
Dionysus with seats for other religious officers on either side. The stone
steps leading from the orchestra to the skene visible in this photograph
were in the late fifth century BC made of wood, as was the low stage they
led to.
Apparently various sections of the theater
were reserved for members of the Council, young men training for military
service, the generals. and other officers of state. Actually private citizens
could sit in the front rows, but the privilege of prohedria allowed
the possessor to eject someone who did not possess this privilege from
these seats, although one had to be very careful in exercising this right.
One could summon the attendants of the state official called the archon
to remove the person, but not apply any violence to the trespasser.
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