Editing Epidaurus (section)

===Theatre===
{{main|Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus}}
[[File:The great theater of Epidaurus, designed by Polykleitos the Younger in the 4th century BC, Sanctuary of Asklepeios at Epidaurus, Greece (14038572644).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus]]]]

The prosperity brought by the asclepeion enabled Epidaurus to construct civic monuments, including the huge [[Theater (structure)|theatre]] that delighted [[Pausanias (geographer)|Pausanias]] for its symmetry and beauty, used again today for dramatic performances, the ceremonial ''hestiatoreion'' ([[banquet]]ing hall), and a [[palaestra]]. [[Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus|The ancient theatre of Epidaurus]] was designed by [[Polykleitos the Younger]] in the 4th century BC. The original 34 rows were extended in Roman times by another 21 rows. As is usual for Greek theatres (and as opposed to Roman ones), the view on a lush landscape behind the ''[[Skene (theatre)|skênê]]'' is an integral part of the theatre itself and is not to be obscured. It seats up to 14,000 people.

The theatre has long had a reputation for its exceptional [[acoustics]], which reportedly allowed almost perfect intelligibility of unamplified spoken words from the [[proscenium]] or ''[[Skene (theatre)|skēnē]]'' to all 14,000 spectators, regardless of their seating, a tale often recounted by tour guides.<ref name="guardianMythBusted">{{cite news |title=Whisper it – Greek theatre's legendary acoustics are a myth |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/oct/16/whisper-it-greek-amphitheatre-legendary-acoustics-myth-epidaurus |work=The Guardian |date=16 October 2017 |language=en}}</ref> In-situ measurements, however, somewhat moderate these claims: although most sounds can indeed be noticed throughout, intelligibility is not guaranteed, particularly for voice, which requires good projection,<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Hoekstra N, Nicolai B, Peeters BP, Hak CC, Wenmaekers RH|title=Project Ancient Acoustics Part 2 of 4 : large-scale acoustical measurements in the Odeon of Herodes Atticus and the theatres of Epidaurus and Argos |journal=23rd International Congress on Sound & Vibration |date=July 2016 |pages=1–8 |url=https://pure.tue.nl/ws/portalfiles/portal/51052274/2016_Project_Ancient_Acoustics_part_2_of_4_Large_scale_acoustical_measurements_in_the_Odeon_of_Herodes_Atticus_and_the_theatres_of_Epidaurus_and_Argos_Hoekstra_et_al.pdf |location=Athens}}</ref> which might not have been a problem for Greek actors, who were reputed experts in this aspect.<ref name="guardianMythBusted"/> The acoustic properties are caused both by the physical shape, but also the construction material: the rows of limestone seats filter out low-frequency sounds, such as the murmur of the crowd, and also amplify the high-frequency sounds of the stage.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Declercq |first1=Nico F. |last2=Dekeyser |first2=Cindy S. A. |title=Acoustic diffraction effects at the Hellenistic amphitheater of Epidaurus: Seat rows responsible for the marvelous acoustics |journal=The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America |date=April 2007 |volume=121 |issue=4 |pages=2011–2022 |doi=10.1121/1.2709842|pmid=17471718 |bibcode=2007ASAJ..121.2011D }}</ref>