Ancient Greek Drama

1. Ancient Greek Drama

2. Originated in Athens, Greece and reached it’s peak in the fifth century B.C. • Grew from ancient religious rituals.

3. Greek Mythology • Zeus • Apollo • Dionysus –

4. Dionysus • Son of Zeus & a mortal woman

5. Mother was killed while pregnant by Zeus‘s lightning bolt • Underwent resurrection – 2nd birth from Zeus’s thigh

6. Dionysus • God of wine and fertility in nature • God of common people • Thought to liberate worshippers from personal trouble

7. Dionysus was a suffering god • Ceremonies were not compatible w/ Greek tradition • Rapid movements of hands & body • Hysterical screaming • Cycle of lamenting and rejoicing

8. Dionysus’s teachings went against Apollo’s teachings of restraint. • Apollo’s follows believed in “Nothing too much” and • “Know thyself”

9. Often the worship of Dionysus was forbidden • More women worshippers than men

10. A Suffering God • Dionysus was believed to have undergone death and resurrection • Religious ceremony mirrored this • Lamenting mirrored god’s death • Rejoicing with wild dancing and singing mirrored god’s resurrection • Often involved animal sacrifices

11. Service served as a social safety valve • After service worshippers left with peace of mind • Was a type of catharsis

12. Dithyrambs • Choral lyric poems in honor of Dionysus • Sung while dancing around altar • Performed by 50 men dressed in goat skins (sacred animals of the gods)

14. Dithyrambs • Later evolved into what we see as chorus • Goats later awarded as prizes in tragedy festivals

15. Dithyrambs • Tragedy = goat song (tragoidia) • Men represented satyrs (Dionysus’s companions

16. Dithyrambs evolved • Became poetic in form • Included stories of gods and heroes

17. Arion (writer) was the 1st to write dithyramb as literaturein poetic form

18. Choragos • The leader of the chorus filled in the intervals between portions of lyric poems with stories of Dionysus

19. Peisistratus • Ruler of Athens • 6th Century B.C. • Gave official recognition to tragedy • Festival instituted

20. Middle of 6th century BC Thespis Introduced first actor • Hypokrites - answerer • Performed between dances of the chorus • Would take several roles – change costumes many times - wore mask • Conversed w/ leader of chorus

21. Thespis • The “Father of Drama” was born in Attica, and was the first prize winner at the Great Dionysia in 534 BC. • He was an important innovator for the theatre, since he introduced such things as the independent actor, as opposed to the choir, as well as masks, make up and costumes.

22. Aeschylus added the second actor • With this addition, drama was born • Possibility of conflict • Chorus was reduced to 12

23. Sophocles • Added 3rd actor • Stabilized chorus at 15 • Introduced painted sets

24. Sophocles • Prominent citizen of Athens • Generally considered the greatest of ancient Greek playwrights • Known for musical, poetic, and dramatic talents • General, political leader, priest

25. Socrates taught • That man possessed a certain freedom of will and action; and a person could live out his life with dignity, bringing upon himself no more than his allotted share of grief.

26. Every person’s fate held in store a personal allotment of unavoidable misery. • Misery in itself was not tragic but was to be expected.

27. Career spanned 62 years • At age of 17, was leader of the chorus • At age of 28, won prize and defeated leading playwright of the day • Wrote 120+ plays • Won 1st place 24 times for 72 plays • Never won less that 2nd prize (7 times) • Names of nearly 100 plays known today • Seven complete plays survive today

28. Contributions • Added the third actor • Fixed the number of chorus members to 15 • Introduced painted scenery • Made each play of trilogy separate in nature • Wrote Oedipus (430 B.C.), Oedipus at Colonus (405 B.C.) and Antigone (440 B.C.) • Plays always contain a moral lesson – usually a caution against pride

29. Production of the plays

30. Tragedy as an art form • Reached its height in 5th century B.C. • Tragedies presented at Tragedy Festivals • Originally presented in honor of god Dionysus

31. Dionysia - Festival • Most important of 3 annual festivals • Plays produced by state • 5 days in March/April

32. Festival Structure • DAY 1 • Grand procession w/ statue of Dionysus carried to the theatre – sacred parade • A herald would announce the competing plays • DAYS 2 & 3 - 5 Dithyrambs – Men & 5 Dithyrambs – Boys

33. Festival Schedule • DAYS 4 - 6 Drama contest • Each playwright presented three tragedies - & 1 satyr play (ridicule gods or heroes) • Later a comedy also presented • Only 3 playwrights participated

34. Actors were chosen by state earlier in the year • Public businesses suspended • Prisoners released on bail • 14,000 spectators • Attendance mandatory – religious obligation • Citizens often required to participate in productions

35. Spectators • Men and women were segregated • Originally free • When trouble over seats – fee charged • State provided fund for those who couldn’t pay.

36. Playwright’s Responsibilities • Wrote plays • Composed music • Directed • Supervised rehearsals • Acted • Assigned actors, chorus, musicians, etc.

37. Costs paid by wealthy citizens (honor) • Was considered a public service • Required as a special tax on wealthy • Shared praise Sponsor

38. Prizes • Wreaths, • Crowns of ivy • Bull, • Goat • Name carved in marble

39. judges • 10 – 20 judges were chosen by government • Elaborate precautions to prevent corruption

40. Thespis • Winner of the first contest

41. Other winners • Aeschylus • Sophocles • Euripides

42. Theater

45. Actors and Acting Hypocrites (answerer) • Never more than three actors in a performance • All male performers

46. Costumes and Masks • Long flowing robes • Colored symbolically • Often padded to add stature • High boots with raised soles • Props carried to identify roles

47. Larger Than Life Masks • Made of linen, wood, cork • Made with human or animal hair • Exaggerated features – large eyes and open mouth

48. Masks continued • Used to inspire audience (larger than mortals) • Hid actor’s face from gods as they impersonated them • Acted as megaphone to amplify voices • Identified age, gender and rank of character • Called a “persona” • Choir masks much simpler

49. Chorus Points out significance of events Gives advice Identifies themes Ideal Spectator Introduces & questions new characters Passage of time or transition between scenes Gives background information Entertains

50. Conventions of Tragedy • Unities of time, place, action • Techniques of stichomythia, strophe, antistrophe, epode, and in media res • Messenger who tells happenings offstage and reports acts of violence (never allowed on stage