The Chi Omega Greek Theater was constructed as a gift to the University commemorating Chi

Omega's founding in 1895. It is the only United States structure of its kind and it was designed

to be almost a replica of the theater of Dionysus at the Acropolis. The theater is used on the

campus today for plays, pep rallies, and meetings. It is accessible to students, faculty, members of

the community and acts as a constant reminder of the Greek System's support of the school. The

Greek Theater is not well known throughout the country, however it is a site of pride in

Fayetteville. It stands for both the unity within the sorority and the monument to the goddess

Demeter who supported civilized life. The first use of the theater was in 1930, when a play was

performed telling the story of Demeter and Persephone.

The theater of Dionysus stands at the foot of the acropolis and its date originates back to the 6th

Century, B.C.. Its originally wood seats rise in tiers above one another against the slope of the

acropolis, creating a natural setting for the plays (D'ooge, 231). The Greek Theater was built to

house a drama which, during the festivals of Dionysus, had evolved from the long tradition of

choral hymns which were presented each year. As Greek culture changed and flourished,

entertainment transformed from being a series of choral chanting and dancing to placing an

emphasis on the actor. As the actors' importance grew, there became a need for a stage from

which they could be seen by each of the fourteen thousand spectators the theater housed. The

chorus was still a very active part of the entertainment and they resided in the orchestra (Norwich,

64). The orchestra was the oldest part of the Greek theater and thus, when the actor was given

more emphasis, the chorus was still regarded very highly. As seen today at the theater of

Dionysus, the orchestra has two sides of straight lines with the form of a semi-circle in back,

however the original orchestra was a circle, much like the one at Chi Omega's Greek Theater.

This original circular space was where the tragedies were performed and it has been gradually

changed into its present shape (D'ooge, 231). Although the picture of the theater of Dionysus

shows a diamond shaped area in the center of the circle, this was not present in the theater's

original form. In the center of the orchestra, there lies a carved depression possibly used as an

altar to Dionysus (D'ooge, 232). The seats take the shape of a semi-circle configured around the

orchestra. The stage building was trimmed with a row of Doric columns suggesting a feeling of

grandeur, permanence, and monumentality. The theater establishes a contrast of beauty which the

Greeks so highly praised, with a feeling of stability and power. In her book, Stokstad claims that

at the acropolis, Pericles hoped to "create a visual expression of Athenian values and civic pride,"

(Stokstad, 186). In this way, the theater of Dionysus proves successful to Pericles plan as it

represented a place of pride and entertainment for all citizens of Athens and is representative of

the social, religious, and cultural ideas which the Greek society stood for.



When looking at the Greek Theater of Chi Omega, it becomes evident that it was built with the

same intentions as its predecessor in Athens. Just as the theater of Dionysus was built as a source

of pride to the community, the Chi Omega Greek Theater was built as a symbol of the friendship,

unity, and stability of the fraternity. It acts as both a homage to Chi Omegas of the past and a

contribution to members of the future. It also shows the underlying message of the Greek System

which explains that there are groups of people with similar interests and goals and they should

learn and grow from experiences with one another. The Chi Omega Greek Theater consists of

marble and stone, the same medium as its predecessor, however, the theater at the acropolis seats

fourteen thousand people unlike the three thousand that the theater in Fayetteville can hold.

Much like the original theater of Dionysus, the Chi Omega theater has a round orchestra, and the

seats form in a semi-circle around the orchestra. There are fourteen columns around a frieze

which adjoins them, and bears the words, "Knowledge, Courage, Integrity, Culture, Intelligence".

These words make up the most highly regarded values to Chi Omegas. Similarly, these words

also emphasize characteristics well-regarded in Greek civilization. Another similarity is the

natural background to each theater. Like the Theater in Athens whose seats travel up the side of

the acropolis, the Chi Omega theater has a rural background of trees and shrubs. In both cases,

this backdrop allows the viewers to be involved both in the setting as well as the play that is being

performed. In meaning, both theaters were built to acknowledge Greek Deities, and had altars or

plaques devoting the building to their perspective deity. Chi Omega looks to the story of Demeter

as an inspirational love and devotion. Although the Greeks used their theater to pay homage to a

religious god, and the Chi Omega Theater is not of religious significance, both have in common a

deep and powerful spirituality.



The Chi Omega Theater alludes to a time which up until the present day sparks mystery and

allure. The world looks back at Ancient Greece as a time of passion, deep religious and spiritual

ties, an allegiance to the state, and a surge of creative and intellectual activity. These

characteristics are re-inspired in this replica of the oldest known Greek Theater. Using the Chi

Omega theater to represent a fraternity, as well as placing it on a college campus, aims to bring

back qualities of Ancient Greece into the present day world. Realizing that the intention of having

the Chi Omega theater resemble the great theater at the acropolis is to bring the values of Ancient

Greece to present day life, enables the viewers to realize how a monument as rare and unique as

this can inspire thought and imagination. As in Greece where the theater was a hotbed of

entertainment, singing and dancing, in Arkansas, it too encourages a happy, joyous lifestyle.



The Chi Omega theater is the only one of its kind in the United States. It successfully acts to

bring the past to present, by not only emulating a certain look, but by also emulating the same

values and awe inspiring sensation.


Bibliography

D'ooge, Martin. The Acropolis of Athens. New York: The MacMillan Company, 1908.

Norwich, John Julius. Great Architecture of the World. New York: Bonanza Books, 1978.

Robertson, D.S. Greek and Roman Architecture. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1969.

Stokstad, Marilyn. Art History. Ed. Harry N. Abrams. 1st ed. Vol. 1. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1995.

Woodford, Susan. Greece and Rome. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1982.