By the 300's BC, in the Hellenistic perioda specific time, there were some new architectural types. Less time was spent on temples. The new form was the theater, and many theaters were built all over the Greek world. The Greek Theater was a central place of formal gatherings in ancient Greece. Not only did the structuresomething built serve as the stage for Tragedies and Comedies, but it also provided a location for poetry and musical events.
This is how it looked then:
This is how it looks now:
The theaters were built on hillsides in the open air and could often hold more than 18,000 people.
They were semi-circularin a half-circle with rows of tieredarranged in layers stone seating. The shape of the theaters gave everyone in the audience an excellent view and also meant they could hear the actors well. In the center of the theater was a circular dancing floor (orchestra), with an altar for sacrifices dedicatedused only for to Dionysus, the god of wine. The stage was a raised area within this circle.
With the conqueststhis won in a war of Alexander the Great, architecture became an important way to spread Greek culture and show who was in charge in the conqueredwon the war countries.
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