1. An Introduction to the Theban Plays
Antigone
An Introduction to the Theban Plays

2. Sophocles Lived from 496 B.C.E. to 406 B.C.E.
Lived in Colonus near Athens
Along with Aeschylus and Euripides, Sophocles is considered to be one of ancient Greece’s best tragic playwrights.
He won the top prize for drama at the Dionysian Festival 24 times.

3. Dramatic Innovations Scene paintings Increased size of the chorus
Introduced a third actor
His tragedies present a main character
with a fault or flaw in his/her personality.
In conjunction with a set of circumstances,
this flaw leads to the character’s doom or
downfall.

4. The Theban Plays Oedipus the King 430 B.C.E.
Oedipus as ruler of Thebes
Oedipus at Colonus 401 B.C.E.
Oedipus in exile
Antigone 441 B.C.E.
Oedipus’ daughter

5. Oedipus the King

6. Masks served several important purposes in Ancient Greek theater: their exaggerated expressions helped define the characters the actors were playing; they allowed actors to play more than one role (or gender); they helped audience members in the distant seats see and, by projecting sound somewhat like a small megaphone, even hear the characters better. In a tragedy, masks were more life-like; in a comedy or satyr play, masks were ugly and grotesque. Masks were constructed out of lightweight materials such as wood, linen, cork, and sometimes real hair. Unfortunately, they lacked durability, and none has survived.