valva regia : VAL-va RAY-gee-a

(Latin; pl. valvae: royal doorway). The central door in the Roman scaenae frons wall; door used by the principal actor. The doors on either side of the central door were the portae hospitales (guest doors). The plural “valvae” was a word associated with temple doors or other grand doors while the word “porta” referred to a domestic door. “The parts of the scene are to be so distributed, that the middle door may be decorated as one of a royal palace; those on the right and left, as the doors of the guests or strangers.” (Vitruvius, De Architectua, Book V).