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theatrum

Theatrum is a Latin noun meaning theatre, stage, or public playhouse. It comes from Greek theatron via Latin; the English word theatre ultimately derives from this term. In classical texts, theatrum denotes a building or space for dramatic performance as well as the act of viewing a performance.

In ancient Rome, theatrum were purpose-built venues for drama, distinct from amphitheatres used for gladiatorial combat.

During the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the term continued in Latin literature and scholarly writing. The

Today, the word theatrum is primarily encountered in historical, literary, or philological contexts, with the modern

A
typical
Roman
theatre
had
a
semi-circular
cavea
for
spectators
and
a
raised
stage
behind
the
front.
The
best-known
example
is
theatrum
Pompeium
(the
Theater
of
Pompey)
in
Rome,
opened
in
55
BCE
as
part
of
a
complex
that
also
housed
a
temple
and
public
spaces.
phrase
theatrum
mundi,
meaning
"the
theatre
of
the
world,"
appears
in
Christian
and
humanist
thought
to
describe
life
and
history
as
a
staged
display
under
divine
or
philosophical
scrutiny.
Through
translation,
theatrum
influenced
the
development
of
the
modern
word
theatre
in
English
and
related
terms
in
many
languages.
English
'theatre'
and
the
many
cognates
derived
from
it.