In the great majority of cases the chorus was supposed to consist of persons from the neighbourhood, and therefore entered the orchestra by the western passage. Their right side was towards the stage, and their left side towards the spectators. As a consequence, the left side of the chorus was much the most conspicuous and important, and the best-trained choreutae were placed there.[898] The tragic chorus might enter five abreast and three deep, or three abreast and five deep, according as the formation was by ranks or by files. As a matter of fact the arrangement by files was the one almost invariably adopted. There are several technical terms in connexion with the tragic chorus, and they all refer to a chorus which is supposed to be entering from the western side, and to be drawn up three abreast and five deep. An oblong formation of this kind would evidently be more convenient in the narrow side-entrances, and would present a broader surface to the spectators and to the stage. The diagram (Fig. 31) represents a tragic chorus entering three abreast from the western parodos. The members of the first file were called ‘aristerostatae’, or ‘men on the left’, and consisted of the handsomest and most skilful of the choreutae. The middle file was the least important of the three, as it was most out of sight of the spectators. The worst choreutae were placed in this file, and were called ‘laurostatae’, or ‘men in the passage’. The third file was the one nearest to the stage. Occasionally, if the chorus wheeled completely round, it came in full view of the spectators. It was therefore of more importance than the middle file, and a better class of choreutae were placed in it. They were called the ‘dexiostatae’, or ‘men on the right’.[899] The six men who composed the front and hindmost ranks—nos. 1, 6, 11, 5, 10, and 15 in the diagram—were styled ‘kraspeditae’, or ‘fringe-men’.[900] Finally, the three files had different names, according to their relative proximity to the spectators. The members of the left file were called ‘front-line men’; the members of the middle and right-hand files were called ‘second-line men’ and ‘third-line men’ respectively.[901]