Greek Theater
The Greek Theater 5 th Century B. C. Golden Age of Greek Drama Dramatic festivals were popular People witnessed tragic and comic plays
Overview of Greek Theatre The land The myths The stage
The Land Greece has thousands of inhabited islands and dramatic mountain ranges Greece has a rich culture and history Democracy was founded in Greece Patriarchal (male dominated) society Philosophy, as a practice, began in Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)
The Land Located in Europe in the Aegean Sea
The Land
Overview of Greek Theatre The land The myths The stage
The Stage
Three Main Portions of Greek Theatre: Skene – Portion of stage where actors performed (included 1-3 doors in and out) Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience Theatron – Seating for audience
The Stage
Greek plays were performed during religious ceremonies held in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry (altars generally on stage) Banks 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 Tragedy means “goat song” (relates to Dionysian rituals)
The Stage
Where and how were the dramas performed? …In an amphitheatre …With a chorus who described most of the action. …With masks …With all the fighting and movement going on off stage. ….With tragedy first, then comedy later.
Masks of Greek Theater
The masks were worn for many reason including: 1. Visibility 2. Acoustic Assistance 3. Few Actors, Many Roles 4. Characterization
Some general categories of masks 1. OLD MEN Smooth-Faced, White, Grizzled, Black-Haired, Flaxen and More Flaxen 2. YOUNG MEN Common, Curled, More Curled, Graceful, Horrid, Pale and Less Pale 3. SLAVES Leathern, Peaked-Beard, Flat Nose 4. WOMEN Freed Old Woman, Old Domestic, Middle Aged, Leathern, Pale-Disheveled, Pale Middle Aged, Whorish-Disheveled, Virgin, Girl 5. SPECIALIST MASKS Some made for specific characters, others for: Mourning, Blindness, Deceit, Drunkenness...etc. (The comic masks, those especially of old comedy, were as like as possible to true persons they represented, or made to appear more ridiculous)
Masks of Greek Theater
Modern-day replicas Hero-King Comedy (Servant or Herald ) Tragedy (Weeping Chorus)
Theater at Epidaurus
Major Greek Dramatists Aeschylus524 B.C.Seven Against Thebes Sophocles496 B.C.Antigone Oedipus Euripides480 B.C.Medea DramatistBornWrote
Sophocles
Oedipus Rex There is a plague in Thebes. There is a plague in Thebes. Oedipus requests the reason behind it, and learns that it is due to the death of King Laius, and he finds out that the murderer is in the city. Oedipus requests the reason behind it, and learns that it is due to the death of King Laius, and he finds out that the murderer is in the city. Oedipus swears he will bring the murderer to justice. Oedipus swears he will bring the murderer to justice. Then, the search ensues…filled with riddles, heart- ache, and tragedy. Then, the search ensues…filled with riddles, heart- ache, and tragedy.
Greek Comedy and Aristophanes
Jason’s Voyage on the Argo Jason and Medea meet Corinth: Where Jason and Medea settle down
Overview of Greek Theatre The land The myths The stage
Myths played a key role in Greek drama
The Myths – Why they were written 1. Explained the unexplainable 2. Justified religious practices 3. Gave credibility to leaders 4. Gave hope 5. Polytheistic (more than one god) 6. Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods)
Explained the Unexplainable 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!
To justify religious practices Dionysian cults in ancient Greece were founded to worship Dionysus, god of grapes, vegetation, and wine.
Roots in Worship of Dionysus God of wine and revelry
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
Theater of Dionysus carved out of a stone hillside looked like a semicircle with steeply rising tiers of seats
Theater of Dionysus
At the bottom was the rounded orchestra or performance area where the chorus sang and danced
Dionysus Theater in Athens
Theater of Dionysus Behind the orchestra was an open, almost bare, stage where actors spoke their lines from behind huge masks
Dionysus Theater in Athens
Theater of Dionysus Male actors performed all the roles Actors switched masks to play a number of roles – both female and male
Dionysus and Satyrs
To give credibility to leaders 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 hope 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. Where DID hope come from? After unleashing suffering, famine, disease, and many other evils, the last thing Pandora let out was HOPE.
Oracle of Delphi
Delphi
Mount Olympus… …Where the Olympians lived. Who are the Olympians?
The Olympians Are the 12 Main Gods
The Olympians
Zeus King of gods Heaven Storms Thunder lightning
Poseidon Zeus’s brother King of the sea Earthquakes Horses
Hades Brother to Zeus and Poseidon King of the Underworld (Tartarus) Husband of Persphone
Ares God of war
Hephaestus God of fire Craftspeople Metalworkers Artisans
Apollo God of the sun Music Poetry Fine arts Medicine
Hermes Messenger to the gods Trade Commerce Travelers Thieves & scoundrels
Dionysus God of Wine Partying (Revelry)
Hera Queen of gods Women Marriage Childbirth
Demeter Goddess of Harvest Agriculture Fertility Fruitfulness Mom to Persephone
Hestia Goddess of Hearth Home Community
Athena Goddess of wisdom Practical arts War
Aphrodite Goddess of love and beauty
Artemis Goddess of hunting and the moon.
The Storyline
Central Character is of the Elite Class
Central Character suffers a Downfall
Central Character is Neither Wholly good nor wholly evil
Downfall is the result of a Fatal Flaw
Misfortunes involve characters who are related or who are friends
Tragic actions take place offstage
Central Character has a moment of recognition
Audience experiences pity and fear
Pity and Fear leads to a catharsis
The End