Greece is now a small country about the size of Pennsylvania. But it was one of the great nations of the ancient world. Small though it was, it defeated the great armies of the Persians and extended its power and influence along the shores of the Mediterranean. It was not by force of arms that the Greeks influenced the world the most, but it was through their arts, their philosophy, and their teachers that they became best known. Greece was once the home of the leading sculptors, architects, philosophers, and writers. From other pictures and book illustrations, you have seen examples of the wonderful old temples with their rows of classic columns. Today our architects study and copy those old buildings. The Greek philosophy and literature have come down through the centuries and are today

found on the shelves of every first-class library. The old Greek authors wrote many plays. So thoroughly did the Greek people enjoy plays that many theaters were built to accomodate the great audiences that flocked to hear the popular actors of the day. The ancient Greek theater was usually built on a hillside. The architect took advantage of the slope of the hill in placing the seats so that every patron had a full view of the stage. Most of the theaters were built out in the open with no roof or sides except the surrounding hillside. The stage was merely a circular area below and in front of the seats. The stereograph gives a good idea of the location, stage and seating plan. Today many of our colleges have built their football stadiums on the general plan of these old Greek theaters.