The Memory Theatre of Gilulio Camillo

Camillo's theatre is a presentation of the stages through which the creation and expand of the universe goes. This theater of memory is a wooden theater which contains several images, spread in different levels in half-circle shape. Different from the traditional images we have in our heads for theaters, this one could be entered by at least two persons at once, because of the fact that the functionality isn't the same as that of a normal theater as well. Camillo chooses the number seven, as he refers to the divine number of the planets to decide for the number of rised grades or steps which are also divided by seven gangways. The size of the decorated gangways- used as imaginary gates toward the memory place- left no space for the accommodation of the audience. The space for the spectator is placed in what we call from experience the stage. The memory theater is mentioned to be a distortion of the plan of the Vitruvian theatre, seven as the number of the gates or doors. Another idea he takea from Vitruvius is that of the decorated doors, placed in the back of the stage, to apply it to the decorated doors over the gangways. Other than this references he used the plan of the Vitruvian classical theatre in order to achieve his purpose. Another reference he takes from Solomon, who claims that: wisdom has built herself a house and has founded it on seven pillars. As is about to understand, the divine ideals are of big importance for Camillo and all the "measurements" he applies have this divine source, but they have different applications in different cases. As different situations he mentioothe three worlds of Cabalists: the supercelestial one or the divine emanation, the middle celestial of the stars and the subcelestial or element world. He amis to assign the momories to the eternal places of the first world. His theater is also based on the principles of the classical art of memory, as the building of the memory is based on the measurements of the universe, as an underlying association with the eternal order. Raising the seven stages, Camillo first represents to the observer the seven essential measures as the seven planets. Moving to the second grade, all the gates have on them the same image, that of the banquet that Ocean made for all the gods, a phase which also represents the first day of creation. On the way of representing the history of creation Camillo represents in this grade the elements of creation in the simplest way, without all the later considerations for creating perfection. A further stage of creation goes in the second grade where the elements are mixed with the cave as a primary element. Consideeing the importance that the figure of human had in antiquity , the fourth grade is dedicated to the creation of human, taking into consideration his mind in this stage and sould on the the other. He also adopted from the Cabalist the concept that man has three souls. This number of three is represented from the three sisters with one eye. To go further with the concept of the soul he takes another image , that of Phasihe and the Bull on the fifth grade. What seven grades represent is in accordance to the nature of each planet. The sixth grade is dedicated to what man can do without any art, to go on the last grade, totally dedicated to art. As mentioned, all these grades go with the order of creation, based as well on the seven fundamental divine measures. All the arrangements are made from Camillo based on the planetary measurements to be brought later on on the real world as the adaption of the ideals into real, normal elements. Not only as a universe's element, the importance of Sun is understood from him in the functional application as well . This essential light or heat that sun spreads can be brought in other forms. Presenting the concept of talismans as objects with the images of something believed to be magical, he gives the same significance to the statues made by Egyptians, helding a certain power and worked in perfection. The propotions that the statute owned could not be brought without a soul( something of a power indeed). The magical effect was because of these perfect propotions. These proportions were part of the universal harmony as the macrocosmos, and as believed from the Renaissance theory, reflected on the human body. All these rules of art are melted on the Theater, a transformation of the art of memory.