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Greek Tragedy

Delve into the captivating realm of Greek tragedy, exploring its origins, performances, theaters, major playwrights, and staging techniques. Discover how this ancient art form continues to influence modern theater. Unravel the mysteries of Greek tragedy today!

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Greek Tragedy

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  1. Greek Tragedy Everything you wanted to know about Greek tragedy but were afraid to ask

  2. What are we going to talk about? • The Origins of Tragedy • Which Cities Performed Tragedy • When Tragedy was Performed • The Parts of a Greek Theater • The Theaters Themselves • The Major Playwrights • The Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience

  3. The Origins of Tragedy • Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in honor of Dionysos • Arion of Methymna (7th century) was the first to write a choral song, practice it with a chorus, and perform it • Lasus of Hermione was the first to do it at Athens • Connected with the worship of Dionysos in Athens

  4. The Origins of Tragedy • Thespis of Corinth • The first travelling actor • Active c. 538-28 BCE • Added prologue and speech to choral performance • Said to have invented the mask

  5. Who Performed Tragedy? • Corinth: c. 600 (Arion) • Sicyon: c. 550 - Cleisthenes (not the Athenian) - Epigenes • Athens: c. 510 - only Athenian dramas left - “school of Hellas”

  6. When Was Tragedy Performed? • City Dionysia @ Athens - aka “Greater Dionysia” - end of March • Rural Dionysia - different demes had performances - “off-Broadway” - various dates in December • The Lenaea - less prestigious - sometime in late January/early February

  7. Where Was Tragedy Performed? • almost every Greek city had a theater • Theaters could be very small or huge • Each theater had specific parts • Usually in the center of the city

  8. The Parts of a Theater • The Orchestra • The acting area • semi-circular • Had a small altar to Dionysos in the center • Where the Chorus danced and the actors spoke

  9. The Parts of a Theater • The Skene • The large backdrop • Could be decorated with scenery • Where the action actually took place (hidden) • Roof was accessible • Originally one door in the center, but eventually had three doors

  10. The Skene

  11. The Parts of a Theater • The Ekkyklēma • A wheeled platform • Used to display set pieces • Agamemnon • The Mēchanē • a large crane • Used for the entrance of gods • Deus ex machina

  12. The Theaters • Theater of Dionysos • Athens • Main theater for tragedy • 4th century remains • c. 20,000 seats • Located on side of Acropolis

  13. Theater of Dionysos

  14. Theater of Dionysos

  15. The Theaters • Theater of Epidauros • The best-preserved • Largest surviving theater • Located near Argos in the Peloponnesus • Sanctuary of Aesclepius • Still in use today

  16. Theater of Epidauros

  17. Theater of Epidauros

  18. The Theaters • Theater of Pergamon • In Asia Minor (Turkey) • Extremely steep seating • Fit to the terrain • Pergamon one of the most wealthy Asian cities

  19. Theater of Pergamon

  20. The Playwrights • Three major tragedians • Aeschylus • Sophocles • Euripides • All active in the 5th century • All won first place in multiple competitions • Only Athenian plays survive

  21. Aeschylus • b. 525 d. 456 (Sicily) • Fought at Marathon • “Aeschylus, Euphorion's son of Athens, lies under this stone dead in Gela among the white wheatlands; a man at need good in fight -- witness the hallowed field of Marathon, witness the long-haired Mede.” • First tragedy 499 • First first prize 484 (13 overall)

  22. Aeschylus • Introduced the second actor • Wrote over 70 plays (seven survive) • Always revered • Main interest is in situation and event rather than character • Oresteia, Seven Against Thebes • Pericles directed the chorus for Persians • Both sons were very successful playwrights

  23. Sophocles • b. 496 d. 406 • Served as a general with Pericles (441) • Very active in city politics (413) • First tragedy 468 • First first prize 468 • Won 18 first prizes • Never finished third

  24. Sophocles • Introduced the third actor • Wrote over 120 plays (seven survive) • The most successful of the Big Three • Challenged conventional mores • Introduced more dialogue between characters (less Chorus) • Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, Electra

  25. Euripides • b. 485 d. 406 (in Macedonia) • Not active militarily or politically • First tragedy 455 • First first prize 441 • Won only four first prizes • The least successful of the Big Three

  26. Euripides • No innovations on the stage • Wrote ninety plays (19 survive) • Sophocles: “I present men as they ought to be, Euripides presents men as they are.” • More realistic than the other two • Alcestis, Medea, Hippolytus, Bacchae, Orestes

  27. The Staging of Tragedy • “Classical theater resembled today’s rock concerts: the audience knew every number by heart, performers wore high heels, loud costumes and heavy make-up, and they relied on background singers, known as the Chorus.” -Howard Tomb

  28. The Staging of Tragedy • “The audience knew every number by heart…” • Most tragedies dealt with mythological themes • “Performers wore high heels, loud costumes and heavy make-up…” • They wore elaborate clothes, tall boots, and masks • “They relied on background singers, known as the Chorus.” • Especially after the introduction of the third actor

  29. The Staging of Tragedy - Actors • Maximum of three actors • Aeschylus second • Sophocles third • All roles played by men • Same group of actors for each set of plays for each author

  30. The Staging of Tragedy - Actors • Playwrights did not act in their own plays after Sophocles • Chorus publicly funded • A choregos would pay for and train the chorus • Viewed as a civic duty • Could be prosecuted for failing to do it wealthy enough • Choregos got a monument if his chorus won

  31. The Staging of Tragedy - Costumes • Actor wore: • Mask • Robes • Platform boots (kothornoi) • Chorus could be in costume (comedy)

  32. The Staging of Tragedy - Masks • The most salient feature • All parts by men, so mask depicted gender • Acted as a megaphone • Voice inflection paramount • Multiple Masks = Multiple Characters • Only three actors • More than three speaking roles, need for costume and mask change • Oedipus and his eyes

  33. The Audience • Any male could attend • Women most likely able to attend • Aeschylus’ Furies • State funded attendance • Cost was the average daily wage of a laborer • Theoric Fund • Never suspended, even when Athens in dire straights • Supplied public tickets • “Must-see TV”

  34. The Audience • Catharsis • “learning through suffering” • Moderation is to be sought in all things, even good things • The mighty fall so far that we admire them for being so high • A spiritual cleansing of the audience • Performances emotional

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