maeniānum : mine-YAH-num

(Latin; pl. maeniāna: a balcony; a horizontal block of seating in a Roman theatre). Originally, a projecting balcony overlooking the Roman forum for viewing gladiatorial displays. In the theatre, one of the tiers or blocks of seating, banding the cavea. Seats within a maeniānum were separated by stairways into wedges of seating called cunei, whereas, the maeniāna were separated vertically by walkways or praecinctiones. The maenianum primum was the lowest tier of seating; the maenianum summum) was the middle tier. The maenianum summum was the upper tier. (also see ima cavea, media cavea, and summa cavea).