Page:The Theatre of the Greeks, a Treatise on the History and Exhibition of the Greek Drama, with Various Supplements.djvu/323

 TRAGEDIES AND COMEDIES IN PARTICULAR. 297 drama which has come down to us, we must briefly consider the distinctive features of its representation. The scene of the play is the coast of Sicily near mount ^tna, which was probably shown in the background. The middle door was the entrance to the cavern in the rock, which served as the dwelling of Polyphemus. The right-hand periactos indicated a road leading to the interior of the island, and that to the left showed the approach from the coast. Between the latter and the cavern was the Kkioriov^ in this case representing the stable for the cattle and sheep of the Cyclops — the avi<i (v. 363), from which Ulysses and his companions were about to furnish themselves with provisions (v. 222, cf. 188). It does not appear that any doors were used except the center door and the two joeriacti; in all probability a large portion of the centre of the stage was occupied by the rocky abode of the Cyclops ; and it is clear that at the end Polyphemus climbs to the top of the rock, i. e. to the balcony, by a narrow passage between his own cavern and the left of the stage, so as to make his exit by the left-hand door on the balcony, while Ulysses and his friends leave the stage as they had entered it by the left-hand periactos. For Ulysses says, v. 702, 67ft) 8' iir d/cTa^ el/nt, and the Cyclops, threatening to smash his ship with a fragment of the rock on which he was (v. 704: TTJaS' diTopprj^a'i irerpa^), adds (706) : 61' dfjt,<ptTpr]TOS T7j<j5e irpoa^aivuv iroSi. At the beginning of the piece Silenus comes forth from the middle door to which he returns (in 174), to make his second entry from the same place (188). Ulysses and his sailors come in from the left, where the periactos gave a view of the coast and of their ship (v. 85). The Cyclops enters from the extreme right, and is some- time in reaching the center of the stage, for he is seen at v. 193, and does not speak till v. 203. The chorus of satyrs had of course entered by the right-hand parodos, but the concluding words show that they follow Ulysses by the left-hand exit from the orchestra. The center door serves for the exits of the Cyclops (346), and Ulysses (355). The latter (375) and the Cyclops with Silenus (503) come forth from the middle door, and leave the stage by it at 607 and 590 respectively. By the same door Ulysses returns (624), goes in (653), and reappears with the Cyclops and his sailors (663). The chorus of satyrs, although it seems to take an active part