Gr. Antiq. [a. Gr. θυμέλη altar, f. θύειν to sacrifice.] The altar of Dionysus in the centee of the orchestra in an ancient Greek theater.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Thymele, in the antient theatre, a kind of pulpit, where the singers called thymelici performed.
1827. Buckham’s Theat. Grks. (ed. 2), 216.
1835. Penny Cycl., III. 298/1. Some large blocks … in front of the stage … supposed by Dr. Hunt to be the ruins of the Thymele.
1842. Smith’s Dict. Grk. & Rom. Antiq., s.v., Theatrum, In the centre of the circle of the orchestra was the θυμέλη, that is, the altar of Dionysus…. The chorus generally arranged itself … between the thymele and the stage.
1889. Haigh, Attic Theat., iii. § 6. 132.
1907. H. Trench, New Poems, 24. The sacred oils On the fragrant thin-flamed thymele.
Hence Thymelic, † Thymelical adjs. rare [Gr. θυμελικός], of or pertaining to the thymele, scenic, theatric.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Thymelical (thymelicus), belonging to players in interludes and open dance.
1849. Donaldson, Theat. Greeks, I. vii. (ed. 6), 152. There was another entrance to the thymelic platform.
