The Stylistic Features and Stonework Details of the Prohedriai and Lion’s Feet in the Metropolis Theater

Abstract

The theater unearthed within the scope of the archaeological excavations in the ancient city of Metropolis in the Torbalı district of Izmir province attracts notable attention with its prohedriai (seats of honor) and lion’s feet. Within the scope of this study, five in situ prohedriai found in the theater and 120 from a total of 150 lion’s feet from the koilon were evaluated. Among the prohedriai, the seat with griffin’s feet differs from the other four prohedriai in form and decorative features. Eighteen different stonework characteristics were identified on the lion’s feet. The aforementioned stonework details of lion’s feet, which vary at the lower koilon, appear in a standard form and with stylized stonework at the upper koilon. Therefore, 17 of the 18 groups examined, based on 18 different stonework renderings of lion’s feet supports, belong to the lower level of koilon. These prohedriai and lion’s feet were then compared with their counterparts found in the architecture of Greek and Roman theaters and various public buildings. The prohedriai and lion’s feet of the Metropolis theater are of importance since they survived in situ and stand as one of the best-preserved examples of architecture in a Greek theater.