Why the Greeks could hear plays from the back row

By Philip Ball
Submitted by Michael Frankfort @mfrank_76

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The ancient Greek theatre of Epidaurus is renowned for its exceptional acoustics, allowing performers to be heard clearly from almost 60 meters away. New research by Nico Declercq and Cindy Dekeyser suggests that the theatre’s stepped rows of seats act as an acoustic filter, suppressing low-frequency background noise while enhancing the high frequencies of performers’ voices. This design, whether intentional or accidental, significantly improves audibility. The concept of filtering sound waves through corrugated surfaces, similar to modern sound-suppressing techniques, may explain this phenomenon. This acoustic filtering could still be relevant for modern open-air theatres and sports stadiums.

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