De Architectura, Book V, Vitruvius: Chapter V, Paragraph 7
… all our public theatres made of wood [omnia publica lignea theatra] contain a great deal of boarding which must be resonant. This may be observed from the behaviour of those who sing to the lyre, who, when they wish to sing in a higher key, turn towards the folding doors on the stage, and thus by their aid are reinforced with a sound in harmony with the voice. But when theatres are built of solid materials like masonry, stone, or marble, which cannot be resonant, then the principles of the “echea” must be applied.
Commentary on Chapter V, Paragraph 7
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
De Architectura, Book V, Chapter V is titled “Sounding Vessels in the Theatre.”
The “echea,” or “sounding vessels” are some unidentified amplifier technology.