1. Ancient Theatre Greek and Roman

2. Amphitheatres  Plays were performed outside  The side of the mountain was scooped out into a bowl shape, and tiers of stone seats were built on the hill.  often seated as many as 20,000  Plays were performed outside  The side of the mountain was scooped out into a bowl shape, and tiers of stone seats were built on the hill.  often seated as many as 20,000

4. Roman Sea Battles  Performers actually died!  The largest known sea battle involved 19,000 participants and approximately ½ of them died  Performance spaces are Massive!  Performers actually died!  The largest known sea battle involved 19,000 participants and approximately ½ of them died  Performance spaces are Massive!

5.  theatron ="viewing-place”  Word origin for “theatre”  where the audience sits and was usually part of the hillside around the performance space  theatron ="viewing-place”  Word origin for “theatre”  where the audience sits and was usually part of the hillside around the performance space

7. The Greek Chorus

8.  The traditional Greek Chorus usually moves and speaks in unison

9. Functions of the chorus (Know 2)  an agent: gives advice, asks, takes part  ideal spectator - reacts as playwright hopes audience would  sets mood and heightens dramatic effects  adds movement, spectacle, song, and dance  pauses / paces the action so that the audience can reflect.  an agent: gives advice, asks, takes part  ideal spectator - reacts as playwright hopes audience would  sets mood and heightens dramatic effects  adds movement, spectacle, song, and dance  pauses / paces the action so that the audience can reflect.

10.  Today’s Greek Chorus  Today’s Greek Chorus

11. Word Origin Thespian= relating to drama/ actor or actress comes from thespis - a popular greek writer Thespian= relating to drama/ actor or actress comes from thespis - a popular greek writer

12. Word Origin  The word “comedy” comes from the Greek word “komos” which means “band of revelers.”

13. The Actors  All of the actors were men. Women were not allowed to participate.  The actors played multiple roles. a wooden, cork, or linen mask was used to show the change in character or mood.  The actor made himself taller by wearing thick soled platform shoes  All of the actors were men. Women were not allowed to participate.  The actors played multiple roles. a wooden, cork, or linen mask was used to show the change in character or mood.  The actor made himself taller by wearing thick soled platform shoes

14. Costumes  standard Greek attire with masks

15. The Theatre of Dionysus  built at the beginning of the 5th century  Dionysus: greek god of wine and festivity “God of the fun stuff”  built at the beginning of the 5th century  Dionysus: greek god of wine and festivity “God of the fun stuff”

16. Dionysus Festival 'City Dionysia', a festival of entertainment held in honor of the god Dionysus.  This festival featured competitions in music, dance, plays, and poetry. 'City Dionysia', a festival of entertainment held in honor of the god Dionysus.  This festival featured competitions in music, dance, plays, and poetry.

17. Community Involvement  The entire city would be in attendance.  All other businesses not directly involved with the 6-day festival would shut down so that everyone could attend.  The government even offered financial assistance to those who could not afford to attend.  The entire city would be in attendance.  All other businesses not directly involved with the 6-day festival would shut down so that everyone could attend.  The government even offered financial assistance to those who could not afford to attend.

18. And the grand prize…

20. Tragedy  The word tragedy came to be derived from the Greek traigos (goat) and ode (poem). Tragedy literally means goat song or goat poem.

21. Important Playwrights (know 2)  Aeschylus  Sophocles  Euripides  Aristophanes

22. Death by tortoise Aeschylus has one of the strangest claims to fame. He was bald, and the story goes that a passing eagle, looking for a rock on which to drop and crack open a tortoise in order to eat it, dropped it on him by mistake, killing him outright.

23. The fate of the tortoise was not recorded.