The Golden Age of Ancient Greek Theatre

1. The Golden Age of Ancient Greek Theatre the origins of drama

2. The Origins Of Drama • Created to celebrate Dionysus, the ancient Greek god of the grape harvest, winemaking and wine, and ritual madness and ecstasy.  • He was also known as Bacchus, the name adopted by the Romans

3. drama • The term comes from a Greek word dran meaning "action," which is derived from “to do.”

4. Thespian • from the name Thespis, the first person ever to appear on stage as an actor playing a character in a play

5. the chorus • 15 men • Sang lyric poetry • Performing was regarded as a civic duty • Wore robes and masks

6. Functions of the chorus • an agent: gives advice, asks, takes part • establishes ethical framework, sets up standard by which action will be judged • ideal spectator - reacts as playwright hopes audience would • sets mood and heightens dramatic effects • adds movement, spectacle, song, and dance • rhythmical function - pauses / paces the action so that the audience can reflect.

7. The TheatreofDionysus • The first plays were performed in the Theatre of Dionysus, built in the shadow of the Acropolis in Athens at the beginning of the 5th century • These theatres proved to be so popular they soon spread all over Greece.

8. Amphitheatres • Plays were performed out-of-doors. • The side of the mountain was scooped out into a bowl shape, something like our amphitheatres today, and tiers of stone seats in concentric semi-circles were built on the hill. • These theatres often seated as many as 20,000 spectators, with a special first row being reserved for dignitaries.

10. Theatron • The theatron (literally, "viewing-place") is where the spectators sat. The theatron was usually part of hillside overlooking the orchestra and often wrapped around a large portion of the orchestra.

11. Orchestra • The orchestra (literally, "dancing space") was normally circular. It was a level space where the chorus would dance, sing, and interact with the actors who were on the stage (called the Proskenion - proh-SKAY-nee-on) in front of the skene. In the center of the orchestra there was often an altar.

12. Skene • The skene - SKAY-nay • (literally, “tent") was the building directly behind the stage in which costumes were stored, and was usually decorated as a palace or building, depending on the needs of the play. It had at least one set of doors, and actors could make entrances and exits through them. Origination of the word “scene.”

13. The Actors • All of the actors were men. No girls allowed. • The actors played multiple roles, so a wooden, cork, or linen mask was used to show the change in character or mood.

14. The masks were worn for many reasons : • 1. Visibility • 2. Acoustic Assistance • 3. Few Actors, Many Roles • 4. Characterization

15. Modern-day replicas Hero-King Comedy (Servant or Herald ) Tragedy (Weeping Chorus)

16. Working in the Space • Because of the distance between actors and the audience, the actors used broad gestures and histrionic speech. • The actor made himself taller by wearing thick-soled shoes and a high head piece. • The masks assisted in projecting the actor’s voice through a type of inside megaphone.

18. Costumes • Consisted of standard Greek attire • Chiton: a sleeveless tunic belted below the breast • Himation: draped around the right shoulder • Chlamys or short cloak: worn over the left shoulder

19. The deus-ex-machina DAY-uhs eks ma-kuh--nuh(god from the machine) was a crane-like device occasionally used for lowering in a god to assist the protagonist in neatly solving his problems.

20. The City Dionysia Festival • In the sixth century BC, the Athenian ruler, Pisistratus, established the 'City Dionysia,' a festival of entertainment held in honor of the god Dionysus. • This festival featured competitions in music, singing, dance, and poetry. • Playwrights presented a series of three tragedies (a trilogy). • Interspersed among the three plays in the trilogy were satyr plays.

21. The City Dionysia Festival • The entire city would be in attendance. • All other businesses not directly involved with the 6-day festival would shut down so that everyone could attend. • The government even offered financial assistance to those who could not afford to attend.

22. Myths played a key rolein Greek drama

23. The Myths – Why they were written • Explained the unexplainable • Justified religious practices • Gave credibility to leaders • Gave hope • Polytheistic (more than one god) • Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods)

24. When Echo tried to get Narcissus to love her, she was denied. Saddened, she shriveled to nothing, her existence melting into a rock. Only her voice remained. Hence, the echo! Explained the Unexplainable

25. Dionysian cults in ancient Greece were founded to worship Dionysus, god of grapes, vegetation, and wine. “All hail the party god!” To justify religious practices

26. Used myths to create family trees for their leaders, enforcing the made-up idea that the emperors were related to the gods and were, then, demigods. To give credibility to leaders

27. The ancient citizens of Greece would sacrifice and pray to an ORACLE. An oracle was a priest or priestess who would send a message to the gods from mortals who brought their requests. To give hope What is the origin of hope? After unleashing suffering, famine, disease, and many other evils, the last thing Pandora let out was HOPE.

28. Mount Olympus… …Where the Olympians lived. Who are the Olympians?

29. The Olympians Are the 12 Main Gods

30. The Olympians

31. King of gods Heaven Storms Thunder lightning Zeus

32. Poseidon • Zeus’s brother • King of the sea • Earthquakes • Horses

33. Hades • Brother to Zeus and Poseidon • King of the Underworld (Tartarus) • Husband of Persphone

34. Athena Ares • God of war • Goddess of wisdom • Practical arts • War

35. Hephaestus Apollo • God of fire • Craftspeople • Metalworkers • Artisans • God of the sun • Music • Poetry • Fine arts • Medicine

36. Messenger to the gods Trade Commerce Travelers Thieves & scoundrels Hermes

37. Dionysus • God of Wine • Partying (Revelry)

38. Hera • Queen of gods • Women • Marriage • Childbirth

39. Demeter Hestia • Goddess of Harvest • Agriculture • Fertility • Fruitfulness • Mom to Persephone • Goddess of Hearth • Home • Community

40. Aphrodite Artemis • Goddess of love • and beauty • Goddess of hunting and the moon.

41. Types of Greek Drama • Comedy • Satyr • Tragedy • Comedy and tragedy were the most popular types of plays in ancient Greece. Hence, the modern popularity of the comedy and tragedy masks to symbolize theatre.

42. Word Origin • The word “comedy” comes from the Greek word “komos” which means “band of revelers.”

43. Comedies • Not admitted to Dionysus festival until very late into the Greece’s golden age - 487 B.C. • The first comedies were mainly satirical and mocked men in power for their vanity and foolishness • The first master of comedy was the playwright Aristophanes • Style: exaggerated, farcical, focus on sensual pleasures

44. Satyr Plays These were short plays performed between the acts of tragedies. They made fun of the plight of the tragedy's characters. The satyrs were mythical half-human, half-goat servants of Dionysus.

45. Word Origin Does the term Satyr remind you of any modern day term? The Satyr and the Satyr plays spawned the modern word “satire.”

46. Tragedy • The word tragedy came to be derived from the Greek tragos (goat) and ode (poem). Tragedy literally means goat song or goat poem.

47. Why read Tragedy? • Strength of character • Perseverance • Courage • Inspiration • The dignity of the human spirit

48. Aristotle’s “Poetics,” an essay about drama in which he discusses tragedy and the tragic hero

49. Traits of the central character of a tragedy – tragic hero • of the Elite Class / mighty figure • suffers a Downfall / reversal of fortune • Neither Wholly good • nor wholly evil • Downfall is the • result of a • Fatal Flaw • Endures uncommon • suffering • Recognizes the consequences of his actions

50. Traits of the a tragedy • Misfortunes involve characters who are related or who are friends • Tragic actions take place offstage • Central Character has a moment • of recognition – “Oh, now I get it!” • Audience experiences pity and fear • Pity and Fear leads to a catharsis • Frequently used messengers to • relate information • Stories based on myth or history, but varied interpretations of • events • Focus was on psychological and ethical attributes of characters, • rather than physical and sociological