Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Siparium

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

SIPA'RIUM. A folding-screen, employed at the theatre, and consisting of several leaves, which could be opened out or folded together (Apul. Met. i. p. 7. siparium complicato. Id. x. p. 232., complicitis sipariis) like a modern screen. Some antiquaries think that the siparium was the drop-scene used only in comedy, and the aulaeum only in tragedy. But Apuleius speaks of both as used together; while his language implies that the aulaeum was let down (subductum) under the stage when the play commenced, and the siparium folded up (complicatum) at the same moment. He represents this as taking place upon the presentation of a pantomimic ballet, descriptive of the judgment of Paris; and as it is known that in some of the large theatres of the Macedonian era, the part of the orchestra situated between the front of the regular stage (proscenium) and the altar of Bacchus (thymele) was converted into a lower stage, upon which the mimes and dancers performed (Muller, Hist. of Greek Literature, vol. i. p. 299.), it may be fairly inferred that the siparium was intended to conceal this lower stage; and that it was folded up to reveal the dancers upon it, at the moment when the aulaeum was let down to show the scenery upon the regular stage.