The stage of the Roman theater of Orange extends over 200 ft (61 m) long at 3.2 ft (1 m) from the ground. In the background, its 121 ft (37 m) high stage wall contributed to the good diffusion of sound and constituted the only architectural decoration - formerly richly decorated with 76 columns - of the theater. The stage wall was organized into three levels. In the center of the first level opened the Royal door (valva regia) reserved for the main actors. The central niche that surmounts it on the third level houses a statue of Emperor Augustus that was certainly originally a representation of Apollo, god of arts and music, later replaced by the effigy of the triumphant emperor. Narrower, the so-called hospitable side doors were used for stage performances by the actors. The column-rich second and third levels were purely decorative.