The Theater of Dionysus (orchestra and skene )
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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