The Greek Theater and Sophocles

There was a celebration in ancient Greece There was a celebration in ancient Greece. The Athenians of the fifth century BC held festivals to honor Dionysus, their god of wine. During these holidays, citizens gathered to watch competitions between playwrights, who presented plays derived from well-known myths. These plays depicted events that exposed arrogance and that emphasized reverence for the gods. Thousands of Athenians saw the plays in outdoor theaters like the one below, in which seats rose in a semicircle from a level orchestra area. The plays performed in these theaters had limited number of characters. There were no curtains to allow changes of scenery between acts, so scenes were interspersed with songs. No violence or irreverence was depicted onstage, although both were central to the plots of many plays. Such events occurred offstage and were reported in the dialogue.

The playwrights of ancient Greece used a consistent format for most of their productions. Plays opened with a prologue (exposition) that presented the background to situate the conflict. The entering chorus then sang a parodos (opening song). This was followed by the first scene. The chorus’s song, an ode, divided scenes, thus serving the same purpose as a curtain does in modern theatre.

The role of the chorus was central to the production and important in interpreting the meaning of the plays. During the odes, a leader, called the choragus, might exchange thoughts with the group in dialogue. During that recital, the group would rotate from right to left, singing the strophe. Then, the chorus would move in the opposite direction during the antistrophe . An epode, or stanza that follows the strophe and antistrophe was included in the odes. At the conclusion, there was a paean of thanksgiving to Dionysus and an exodos, or final exiting scene. The chorus played an integral part in any play’s success.

Greek Tragedy Structure Prologue- background to the conflict Parodus – opening song Episodes: First Scene Ode – divided scenes- songs and sometimes dances Strophe (“turn”)-first part of conflict Antistrophe (“turn back”) – second part of conflict Epode (“after song”) – end of ode Paean – thanks to Dionysus Exodos – final exiting scene

All roles were played by men wearing large masks, extravagant robes, and platform shoes. Great actors were characterized by their voice quality and the ability to adopt their manner of speaking to the character. They used exaggerated gestures so be seen. In the beginning there was only one actor who wore different masks for different characters. Aeschylus added two characters; Sophocles added three characters. Exaggerated mouthpieces like megaphones allowed dialogue to be heard from far away. Costumes were made of linen or cork. None remain.

A tragedy recounts the downfall of a tragic hero with a tragic flaw (hamartia), usually an excess of pride (hubris) which will lead to the downfall. Tragedies dealt with love, loss, pride, abuse of power, and/or relationships with the gods. The hero commits a terrible crime without realizing how foolish and arrogant he has been, eliciting pity and fear from the audience.

Parts of a Greek Theatre Theatron – seating for the audience / built of wood then stone/ 12,000-14,000 seats Skene “tent”- portion of the stage where actors performed Orchestra – “dancing place,” where Chorus sang to the audience / core of the theatre/ alter to Dionysus located in the center Parodos – entrances and exits

The Theatre of Dionysus is at the foot of the Parthenon in Athens The Theatre of Dionysus is at the foot of the Parthenon in Athens. Little of it is left. This is the best ancient Greek theatre remaining at Epidaurus. Plays are still performed.

Myths explained the unexplainable such as famine or drought Myths explained the unexplainable such as famine or drought. The Greeks were polytheistic, worshiping Olympians.

SOPHOCLES (496? – 406 B.C.) He is considered to be the greatest of Greek playwrights. He introduced elaborate scene-painting to the theatre. He also added a third character to the cast, allowing for more complicated staging and conflict and reducing the importance of the chorus. From almost fifty years, he was the dominant competitor in the dramatic competitions of ancient Athens that took place during the religious festivals of Dionysus. His first victory was over the reigning playwright Aeschylus, who retired to Sicily. Of 123 plays written by him, only 7 survive. The most famous of these are the three tragedies concerning Oedipus and Antigone; often known as the Theban plays, although they were not originally written or performed as a single trilogy. The keenest sorrow is to recognize ourselves as the sole cause of all our adversities.

The Three Theban Plays The order in which the plays were written are as follows: Antigone, Oedipus Rex, and Oedipus at Colonus. However, the order of the trilogy is Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone.

Oedipus the King - Oedipus unknowingly kills his father, King Laius, marries his mother and fathers four children with her. _ Upon discovering he murdered his father, he gouges his eyes out; Jocasta commits suicide; Creon (Jocasta’s brother) become King of Thebes and banishes Oedipus

Oedipus at Colonus (written when Sophocles was 90) -Antigone cares for her blind father - Oedipus’s sons , Polynices and Eteocles) fight over control of Thebes and kill each other in battle - The gods have forgiven Oedipus and he dies in peace

Antigone