How did ancient Greek amphitheaters primarily achieve clear vocal projection without electronic amplification?
Answer
By utilizing specific geometry and hard, reflective stone surfaces.
The fundamental acoustic characteristic of ancient Greek amphitheaters stemmed from their structural design. They were typically built into hillsides, allowing the rising tiers of seating to function acoustically. The hard, reflective nature of the stone construction ensured that sound waves propagated outward and upward efficiently toward the audience. This arrangement favored sound projection by utilizing reflection rather than sound absorption, which would have deadened the performer's voice. The architecture itself acted as a natural sound delivery system, relying entirely on geometry and material reflectivity.
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