Proscenium

The term proscenium comes via Latin ( proscenium ) from the Ancient Greek πρό pro ( "before" ) and σκήνη skene ( "stage" ).

In the Greek theater was the proskenion ( προσκήνιον ) occurred the facade -like stem before the skene ( backstage and dressing rooms ), which was also used as a backdrop, and where also the actors.

Originally there were ( v. from the 4th century BC familiar ) on both sides of the skene two projecting extensions, called Paraskenion ( παρασκήνιον " side stage "). From the 2nd century BC these were replaced by the proskenion.

In modern theater, the proscenium is the proscenium arch, the front part of the stage between the curtain and the orchestra. In the Proszeniumsöffnung is generally prescribed by law was in Germany and Austria for protection against fire "Iron Curtain".

On both sides of the proscenium usually are the - particularly representative - proscenium boxes, including earlier, the " royal box ", now often called the " Intendantenloge ".