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Have you ever heard that Greek theaters, at least some of them, had such perfect acoustics that the audience could hear a word whispered from the orchestra all the  way up in what we might now call the cheap seats? I’d read this claim. When our tour coordinator offered an excursion to Epidaurus, the best-preserved of all ancient Greek theaters, I whipped out my credit card and booked the trip.
The theater’s architect, Polykleitos the Younger, created an impressive structure that could hold between 13,000 and 14,000 spectators. The small surrounding territory of Epidauria is considered to be the birthplace of Apollo’s son Asclepius the Healer, the god of medicine. The area grew into the most revered place to go for cures for mortal ills. Over time the settlement grew to include extensive accommodations for pilgrims seeking health. In the fourth and third centuries BC, the prosperity brought by the shrine made construction of the theater possible. The structure is the best-preserved of extant ancient Greek theaters.
When we arrived at the theater, our tour guide suggested that we climb up to some of the higher tiers and listen while she made various noises from the orchestra center. She’d told us that the theater faces in the direction of the sea, so the sea breeze could help move sound toward the audience. According to two Georgia Tech researchers, the sea breeze had nothing to do with the acoustics; the limestone seats themselves perform the magic. The stone filters out low-frequency noise and reflects back the higher frequencies more typical of the human voice. The acoustical effect of thousands of human bodies sitting in those seats isn’t addressed, however.
When our guide demonstrated the acoustical magic, the effect wasn’t as advertised. Granted, my hearing isn’t what it used to be, but I wasn’t the only person disappointed. I’ve visited the whisper gallery in the US Capitol, and I’d hoped for something equally magical. I figured the fault was my perception and not the acoustics.
Just after our return, though, Mr. Best in Show read an article that debunked the myth of the Epidaurus theater’s perfect acoustics. Using techniques and equipment they developed themselves, a team from TU Eindhoven tested the acoustics of three Greek theaters, including Epidaurus, and proved conclusively that you can’t hear a whisper in the last row. The acoustics are very good, but not magic. These days the magic comes from performances that are held here, and in other ancient Greek theaters.
Photo credit: Flickr/Sharon Mollerus CC BY 2.0
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