The Greeks

1. The Greeks

2. GREEK CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE

3. GREEKS • Ancient Greek ideas about art, architecture, drama, philosophy, and government greatly influenced Western Civilization. • Among the most influential of Greek cultural achievements is the Parthenon in Athens, an outstanding example of classical architecture.

4. GREEKS • Greek dramas set structural and thematic styles emulated by great Western playwrights such as William Shakespeare.

6. Athens dominated the Greek city-states in the 5th century B. C. Rival Sparta led the smaller Spartan Confederacy. The two sides fought in the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B. C.), and Athens lost, leaving it temporarily weakened.

7. MUSIC AND DANCE – POPULAR GREEK ACTIVITIES

8. Theater of Epidauros

10. The Greek Theater • 5th Century B. C. • Golden Age of Greek Drama • Dramatic festivals were popular • People witnessed tragic and comic plays

11. Theater of Dionysus • Dionysia was an annual festival in honor of the god Dionysus • Theater of Dionysus was an open-air Theater with room for fifteen thousand spectators

12. Theater of Dionysus

13. Theater of Dionysus • carved out of a stone hillside • looked like a semicircle with steeply rising tiers of seats

15. Theater of Dionysus • At the bottom was the rounded orchestra or performance area where the chorus sang and danced

16. Theater of Dionysus • Behind the orchestra was an open, almost bare, stage where actors spoke their lines from behind huge masks

17. Theater of Dionysus • Male actors performed all the roles • Actors switched masks to play a number of roles – both female and male