Musical and choral performance spaces in the Ancient World

About this book

This current volume is intended to explore visual and archaeological evidence, as well as literary and epigraphic written sources, which inform us that musical and choral performances were an important part of many cults and rituals performed in spaces and architectural buildings of the ancient world. Despite it being difficult to ascertain whether specific spaces were intended for the performance of music and dance through archaeological records, the essays featured in this book raise the notion that particular architectural features might have facilitated music and dance performances. Contributing authors were asked to address music and dance which took place not only in dedicated musical settings and dance floors in purpose-built spaces in the forecourts of the sanctuaries, but also instances of performance along processional streets and around altars and cult statues, as well as on monumental steps and in dining rooms in a sacred context. Together, the papers cover different regions and a broad chronological span. Furthermore, most papers present archaeological material that has either been recently discovered or is published here for the first time.