place for seeing, for dramatic representation, theatre, a place of assembly, amphitheatre, the stage, theatre
place for seeing, esp. for dramatic representation, theatre, Hdt. 6.67, IG 2(2).1176, al.; as a place of assembly, Th. 8.93, Lys. 13.32, SIG 976.4 (Samos, ii B.C.), Posidon. 36 J., Act.Ap. 19.20, etc.; θ. κυνηγετικόν, of the Roman amphitheatre, D.C. 43.22; εἰς τὸ θ. εἰσφέρειν to bring upon the stage, Isoc. 12.122; τὸ καλὸν τοῦ θ. a good place in the theatre, Ael. VH 2.13, cf. Alciphr. 3.20.
2 the spectators, ‘the house’
collective for οἱ θεαταί, the spectators, ‘the house’, Hdt. 6.21, Ar. Eq. 233, al., Pl. Smp. 194b, Com.Adesp. 3D.: metaph., ἐκάθηντο θέατρον αὐτῷ Lib. Ep. 722.4.
3 spectacle
= θέαμα, spectacle, θ. ἐγενήθημεν τῷ κόσμῳ 1 Ep.Cor. 4.9.
4 life
metaph., of life, τουτὶ τὸ θ. ὑπεκρίθημεν Porph. Marc. 2.