scenae

Scenae is the Latin plural form of scena, a term used in classical theatre and architectural studies to denote the stage or its scenery. In ancient Roman theatres, the scaena (singular) referred to the stage-house behind the orchestra, which housed the doors for entrances and the back scene or scenery used during performances. The front of this structure, known as the scaenae frons, was the decorative façade visible to the audience and served as the primary backdrop for theatrical action. This façade was often multi-storied and richly adorned with architectural elements, niches, columns, and statuary, providing a setting for changes of scene.

Scholarly descriptions of Roman theatres frequently discuss the scaenae and the scaenae frons to explain how stage spaces were organized and how scenery was presented. The term appears in inscriptions and ancient authors as part of architectural and dramatic discourse, and it is still used in modern classics and archaeology to describe the stage-building complex rather than the audience-facing action of a performance.

Etymology-wise, scena derives from Latin, itself borrowed from the Greek skēnē, meaning a tent or stage and giving rise to the English word scene. The Latin plural form scenae is commonly encountered in academic references, especially in phrases such as scaenae frons (the stage front).

In contemporary usage, scenae is primarily a classical or scholarly term. It is not typically used to describe modern theatre scenery, which uses the English terms scene or scenery. The concept remains central to discussions of ancient theatre architecture and the visual design of Roman stage spaces.