ANCIENT THEATRE ACOUSTICS PART 2 - the amazing acoustics of Epidaurus theatre

Ancient theatre acoustics Part 2 - the amazing acoustics of Epidaurus theatre

The acoustics of ancient Greek-Roman theatres amaze even the non-specialists. A renowned example for such good acoustic properties is the Epidaurus theatre, in Peloponnese, Greece. Due also to its well-preserved state, this theatre presents a benchmark for testing our state-of-the-art theories and numerical computations comparing them to in-situ measurements. Although we now understand the physics behind such good acoustics, it is still puzzling how 2500 years ago, there was knowledge for engineering such optimal results.
With these episodes, I want to summarise and share some of our current knowledge.

presentation, content: Professor Emeritus John Yiannis Mourjopoulos, Audio & Acoustic Technology Group, University of Patras, Greece; email: [email protected]

PART 1 an early home for theatre…and music
   • ANCIENT THEATRE ACOUSTICS PART 1 - an...  

PART 3 acoustics of the ancient theatrical masks (…to come)

CREDITS …and thanks
computer acoustic models, simulations, animations and acoustic measurements:
Dr. Stamatis Vassilantonopoulosꝉ, Yiorgos Moiragias, Dr. Konstaninos Kaleris, Panos Zachos,
Gavriil Kamaris, Dr. Panos Hatziantoniou, Dr. Fotis Kontomichos,
acoustic modeling s/w: CATT-Acoustic, https://www.catt.se/, Olive Tree Lab, https://www.mediterraneanacoustics.co...
pictures and theatre photos: Øystein Elle, Janne Hoem, Sotiris Psarras & Mercury Kountouras, Audiogroup, Creative Commons, Wikimedia Commons
video: Dimitris Mourtzopoulos, https://n-code.gr/
ancient drama performance excerpt: Euripides’s Medea directed by Antonis Antipas, performed by Amalia Moutoussi (Medea) and Aris Lempessopoulos (Creon), Epidaurus 23rd of July, 2011. Acoustic measurements and binaural audio samples were obtained by Psarras & Kountouras.
John Mourjopoulos’ Epidaurus footage: Terra-X documentary, “Große Völker, Die Griechen”, https://www.zdf.de/dokumentation/terr...

TO SEARCH FURTHER
International Symposium “The Acoustics of Ancient Theatres”:
https://www.eaa-saat.eu/
http://www.ancientacoustics2011.upatr...
https://acustica-aia.it/en/event/vero...
Relevant papers mentioned in the presentation:
K. Kaleris, G. Moiragias, P. Hatziantoniou, J. Mourjopoulos: “Time-frequency diffraction acoustic modeling of the Epidaurus ancient theatre”, Acta Acustica, 7 (2023) 67, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/aacus/2023059 (open access paper)
N. Declercq, C. Dekeyser: “Acoustic diffraction effects at the Hellenistic amphitheatre of Epidaurus”, Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 121, 4 (2007)
S. Psarras, P. Hatziantoniou, M. Kountouras, N.-A. Tatlas, J. Mourjopoulos, D. Skarlatos: “Measurement and analysis of the Epidaurus ancient theatre acoustics” Acta Acustica united with Acustica 99 (2013)