1. Western Civilization
Greek Theater

2. The Greek Theater 5th Century B. C. Golden Age of Greek Drama
Dramatic festivals were popular
People witnessed tragic and comic plays 2

3. The Stage

4. 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

5. The Stage

6. 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)

7. The Stage

8. 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.

9. Masks of Greek Theater

10. The masks were worn for many reason including:
1. Visibility
2. Acoustic Assistance
3. Few Actors, Many Roles
4. Characterization

11. Some general categories of masks
1. OLD MEN
Smooth-Faced, White, Grizzled
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)

13. Masks of Greek Theater

15. Masks of Greek Theater

16. Comedy (Servant or Herald ) Tragedy (Weeping Chorus)
Modern-day replicas
Hero-King
Comedy (Servant or Herald )
Tragedy (Weeping Chorus)

17. Theater at Epidaurus

18. Theater at Epidaurus

19. Major Greek Dramatists
Aeschylus
524 B.C.
Seven Against Thebes
Sophocles
496 B.C.
Antigone
Oedipus
Euripides
480 B.C.
Medea
Dramatist
Born
Wrote