scalae: : SKA-ligh

(Latin; used in the plural: stairs). Audience stairways in Roman seating area (cavea). The staircases (scalae) that separated the wedge-shaped seating sections (cunei) of the Roman cavea. In multi-tiered seating, the staircases lead to curved walkways (praecinctions) that separated the seating galleries. Corresponds to the Greek, klimakes. Vitruvius references scalaria when talking about staircase systems in the theatre. (Vitruvius, De Architectura, Book V)