An odeon (Greek odeion, “song hall”) is a small, roofed theatre of Greek and Roman antiquity, built for musical performances, singing competitions and recitals. The name derives from the Greek word for song. The term was later reused for concert halls and cinemas, which is why it still appears on facades today.
Compared with a theatre and an amphitheatre
| Odeon | Theatre | Amphitheatre | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan | Semicircular, smaller | Semicircular | Oval or circular |
| Roof | Roofed | Open | Open |
| Capacity | Small, hundreds to a few thousand | Large | Very large |
| Use | Music, song, recitation | Drama | Games, combat |
The roof is the distinguishing feature. It makes the hall suitable for the spoken word and for music, where you want to hold the sound rather than let it disperse.
How it was built
- Cavea — the rising semicircular seating, often cut into or built against a slope
- Orchestra — the semicircular floor in front of the stage
- Scaenae frons — the built stage back wall, which acted as a sounding board
- Roof — a timber roof structure or a stone vault; the achievable span set the maximum size of the hall
That span is exactly why an odeon is so much smaller than an open-air theatre: a roof of several tens of metres was the upper limit for the timber construction of the time.
Acoustics
The principles behind these halls still apply:
- Rising seating — every row has a clear view and therefore a clear sound path to the source
- Hard, smooth back wall — reflects sound into the hall
- Compact form — short distances keep the direct sound strong relative to reverberation
Related terms
- Amphitheatre
- Theatre
- Cavea
- Acoustics
- Classical architecture
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