Greek Theater Western Civilization

The Land Greece has many inhabited islands and dramatic mountain ranges Greek civilization started in the island of Crete in 2000 BCE. Its called the Minoan civilization, after King Minos. Remember the Minotaur? Every nine years, King Minos would send 7 boys and 7 girls to a labyrinth to be eaten by this half man- half bull creature.

Civilizations/ Accomplishments Civilizations/ Accomplishments The Mycenean civilization came from mainland Greece (1500 BCE). The Myceneans were soldiers, and under King Agamemnon, they battled against the city of Troy during the infamous Trojan War. Around 750 BCE, the Greeks developed a writing system borrowed by the Phoenicians. The Greeks invented the alphabet, resulting in literary achievements, such as epics, speeches, for commercial use, etc. Around 750 BCE, the Greeks developed a writing system borrowed by the Phoenicians. The Greeks invented the alphabet, resulting in literary achievements, such as epics, speeches, for commercial use, etc.

The Land

Greeks lived in city-states (polis) ruled by a king. Even though the Greeks did not see each other as a single nation, they did feel a sense of nationality with their neighboring communities. Democracy was founded in Greece around 500 BCE. The most notable government was in Athens. Democracy was founded in Greece around 500 BCE. The most notable government was in Athens. City-states were patriarchal, which means that only free, native male citizens could vote and participate in politics. City-states were patriarchal, which means that only free, native male citizens could vote and participate in politics. Philosophy, as a practice, began in Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle) around 600 BCE. Philosophy, as a practice, began in Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle) around 600 BCE. Accomplishments/ Government

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

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 Male actors performed all the roles Actors switched masks to play a number of roles – both female and male

At the bottom was the rounded orchestra or performance area where the chorus sang and danced Behind the orchestra was an open, almost bare, stage where actors spoke their lines from behind huge masks Theater of Dionysus

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)

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

Sophocles

Brief Bio Despite the fact that his plays were mostly tragic, Sophocles had a comfortable life. He became famous when he beat Aeschylus at age 28 in an annual competition. He wrote 123 plays in his lifetime; won 24 prizes; wrote for 6 decades He is considered one of the three great ancient Greek tragedians, together with Aeschylus and Euripedes

Theban Trilogy Sophocles’s famous plays are the Theban plays. It took him 36 years to write. The plays follow a family and their many losses due to prophecy and human will. Antigone was written first (442 BCE); Oedipus the King came second (429 BCE); Oedipus at Colonus was last (406 BCE). However, according to the timeline of the story, Antigone comes last.

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); 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.

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

The Oracle of Delphi The Oracle of Delphi, also known as the Pythia, was a religious institution established in 800 BCE in honor of Apollo. Priestesses or priests would reside there, and once a month, they would prophesy. Supplicants would travel to Delphi for advice, be interviewed by the priests, visit with the Oracle and travel back home to put their plan into action.

Oracle of Delphi

Delphi

Polytheistic Religion Mount Olympus is 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 End