Editing Proscenium (section)

==Origin==
[[File:Roman theatre Bosra edited.jpg|thumb|left|Roman theatre view: ''1) Scaenae frons 2) Porticus post scaenam 3) Pulpitum 4) '''Proscaenium''' 5) Orchestra 6) [[Cavea]] 7) Aditus maximus 8) [[Vomitorium]]'', [[Roman theatre of Bosra]], Syria]] 
In later [[Hellenistic]] [[Greek theatre]]s the [[proskenion]] (προσκήνιον) was a rather narrow raised stage where solo actors performed, while the [[Greek chorus]] and musicians remained in the "orchestra" in front and below it, and there were often further areas for performing from above and behind the proskenion, on and behind the [[Skene (theatre)|skene]].  ''Skene'' is the Greek word (meaning "tent") for the tent, and later building, at the back of the stage from which actors entered, and which often supported painted scenery. In the Hellenistic period it became an increasingly large and elaborate stone structure, often with three storeys. In Greek theatre, which unlike Roman included painted scenery, the proskenion might also carry scenery.<ref>[[John Boardman (art historian)|Boardman, John]] ed., ''The Oxford History of Classical Art'', p. 168, 1993, OUP, {{ISBN|0198143869}}</ref>

In ancient Rome, the stage area in front of the [[scaenae frons]] (equivalent to the Greek skene) was known as the ''pulpitum'', and the vertical front dropping from the stage to the ''orchestra'' floor, often in stone and decorated, as the '''''proscaenium''''', again meaning "in front of the ''skene''".

In the Greek and Roman theatre, no proscenium arch existed, in the modern sense, and the acting space was always fully in the view of the audience. However, Roman theatres were similar to modern proscenium theatres in the sense that the entire audience had a restricted range of views on the stage—all of which were from the front, rather than the sides or back.