The Use of Resonators in Ancient Greek Theatres
The ancient theatre of Lyttus in Crete (Candia) was described by the traveller Onorio Belli (1580) as been constructed according to the rules described by Vitruvius, presented in the V book of “Architectura”. As Onorio Belli informs us, the theatre contained three rows of
13 acoustic vases in each, known also as “echea”. According to Vitruvius, “echea”, which are actually Helmholtz resonators, were placed in ancient Greek and Roman theatres in order to improve their acoustic performance. A computer simulation model of Lyttus' theatre
was designed in order to study the effect of the resonators, as acoustic elements on the most important acoustic indices and also to compare its acoustic behaviour to Epidaurus theatre. Based on a plan of the theatre sketched by Onorio Belli, a CAD model with 39 acoustic vases was designed.
A computer simulation program showed that the resonators do not amplify the sound but they have a strong effect on the Centre Time and LEF indices.
Document Type: Research Article
Publication date: 01 January 2013
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