2. Greek Theater

3. Overview of Greek Theater The land Antigone The Theater

4. The Land Greece has thousands of inhabited islands and dramatic mountain ranges

5. The Land Greece has a rich culture and history

6. The Land Democracy was founded in Greece

7. The Land Patriarchal (male dominated) society

8. The Land Philosophy, as a practice, began in Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)

9. The Land Located in Europe in the Aegean Sea

10. The Land

12. Overview of Greek Theater The land Antigone The Theater

14. At the Theater Men were the only actors Up to 15,000 spectators and no microphones or video made the actors embellish actions for all to see Few props (those used were for explaining the role of the character—ex: a sword for a warrior) Plays were done in the day time (they had to use the sun—no artificial lighting) Any violence occurred offstage (unlike today’s films)

15. The Chorus Wore costumes and masks and represented the conscience of the people in the drama (sided with what was right and good) Introduces itself with an introductory song to the audience called the parodos Is headed by the choragos, who leads the song and dance of the chorus

16. The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Theatron – Seating for audience

17. The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience

18. The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Parados – entrance to the theater used by the Chorus

19. The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Thymele – altar to Dionysus in center of orchestra where sacrifices were made

20. The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Skene – wooden scene building used as a dressing room.

21. The Theater Six Main Portions of Greek Theater: Proskenion – where most of the action took place; also served as a backdrop

22. The Stage

23. Dionysus God of Wine and Partying (Revelry)

24. The Theater Greek plays were performed during religious ceremonies held in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry (altars generally on stage)

25. The Theater Business would shut down for days, people would travel from all around to see the drama competitions— even prisoners were temporarily released to see the plays

26. The Theater

27. Where and how were the dramas performed? … In an amphitheatre

28. Where and how were the dramas performed? …With a chorus who described most of the action.

29. Where and how were the dramas performed? ……With masks

30. Where and how were the dramas performed? Each morning, one of the playwrights presented three tragedies and a satyr play.

31. Where and how were the dramas performed? That afternoon, another playwright presented a comedy.

32. Where and how were the dramas performed? This went on for three days and then a winner was chosen.

33. Major Greek Dramatists DramatistBornWrote Aeschylus524 B.C. Seven Against Thebes Sophocles496 B.C. Antigone Oedipus Euripides480 B.C. Medea

34. How were the dramas developed? How were the dramas developed? Thespis was the first playwright to tell a story. He had one chorus member step away from the others to play the part of a hero or god.

35. How were the dramas developed? Aeschylus added a second individual actor to the performance, thus creating the possibility of conflict.

36. How were the dramas developed? Sophocles adds a third actor; now we have full- blown drama.

37. Greek Tragedy Had a tragic hero with a fatal flaw that led to his downfall Tragic heroes were almost always men Tragic heroes fell from a high stature in society to a low one Lower class characters could not be the hero of the play. Greeks believed that their gods picked their rulers to rule. The lower classes were not the subject of the gods. Many tragedies started “in medias res” or in the middle of the action

38. Ancient Greek Views About Death The Greeks believed that the spirit of a dead person could enter Hades only after the body had been purified and buried. Until the proper rites were performed, the person hovered at the gate of Hades, neither alive nor completely dead.

39. Ancient Greek Views about the Role of Women in Society Women had no property rights. Women married to much older men at the age of 13 or 14. (Antigone is no older than 15) Women had no inheritance except through a male relative, who had sole rights to the property/possessions.

40. Overview of Greek Theatre The land Antigone The stage

41. Sophocles’ Antigone Is based on the myth of Oedipus

42. Sophocles’ Antigone Oedipus is given away by his parents, Laios and Jocasta when they learn from an oracle that their son would kill his father and marry his mother.

43. The ancient citizens of Greece would sacrifice and pray to an ORACLE. An oracle was a priest or priestess who would send a message from the gods to mortals who brought their requests.

44. The Oracle at Delphi Most famous oracle in Greek mythology.

45. Sophocles’ Antigone Oedipus learns of the oracle’s omen and believing the king and queen of Corinth are his parents, he leaves to avoid the omen (his fate).

46. Sophocles’ Antigone Oedipus travels to Thebes, killing Laios on the way. He saves the city from a terrible monster, the Sphinx.

47. Sophocles’ Antigone Thebes reward him by making him king and giving him the queen to marry.

48. Sophocles’ Antigone A plague hits the city and the oracle warns that it won’t go away until the killer of King Laios is punished.

49. Sophocles’ Antigone Oedipus investigates and finds out he killed his father and married his mother.

50. Sophocles’ Antigone Oedipus blinds himself and Jocasta kills herself.

51. Sophocles’ Antigone Set in Thebes (a city in ancient Greece)

52. Sophocles’ Antigone Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and Jocasta.

53. Sophocles’ Antigone Antigone’s brothers, Eteokles and Polyneces, were to rule in alternate years.

54. Sophocles’ Antigone Eteokles refused to give up the throne for Polyneces at the end of his year.

55. Sophocles’ Antigone Polyneces went to Argos and raised an army to gain the throne.

56. Sophocles’ Antigone Eteokles and Polyneces killed each other in battle.

57. Sophocles’ Antigone Antigone’s uncle, Creon, became king of Thebes.

58. Sophocles’ Antigone Antigone’s uncle, Creon, gives Eteokles, his ally, a hero’s burial and issues a decree against burying Polyneces.

59. Sophocles’ Antigone Antigone believes that he is wrong and that both of her brothers should be buried with honor.

60. Sophocles’ Antigone The conflict between Antigone and Creon is the basis for the play.

61. Copy Only The Boxed Portion!

62. Sophocles “The honor of life lies not in words but in deeds.” Take a few moments to think about the quote above. Write a brief response to this quote using an example from your life, current events or history to either support or refute it.

63. The End