Roman theatre’s scaenae frons as a thematic edifice

Ancient theatre may be seen as an archetype of architecture. The chapter focuses on the symbolic content of Roman theatre’s stage building façade, the scaenae frons, which may be considered to be one of the key origins of the western sacred architectural façade. Developed from the palace or city gate and the Hellenistic theatre skene, the elaborate structure of the scaenae frons provided a scenographic framework and a layer of symbolic meaning to drama. An architecture of both religious and a political significance, the scaenae frons, with its hierarchical structure of portals, galleries and aediculae, represented the celestial city of the gods, and deified the earthly ruler by placing him in its setting. During the imperial period, the architecture of the scaenae frons came increasingly to represent Rome’s world domination. The chapter further considers the affinity between the scaenae frons and the scenographic and commemorative architecture of the triumphal arch. It then looks at how the façade’s symbolic themes were absorbed and reinterpreted in early Christian and medieval iconography, where the church became identified with Heavenly Jerusalem, and Christ was celebrated through the iconography of the triumphant Roman emperor. The chapter outlines the evolution of such archetypal themes and considers the relevance of architectural tradition for the contemporary context.