1. Ancient Greece & Sophocles Notes by Olaina Anderson

2. Athens: democracy is born 508 B.C. Pericles Pericles 472 B.C. sponsored play by Aeschylus in Great Dionysia472 B.C. sponsored play by Aeschylus in Great Dionysia 461-429 B.C. ruled Athens461-429 B.C. ruled Athens 447 B.C. oversaw building of Parthenon447 B.C. oversaw building of Parthenon The Parthenon at the Acropolis in Athens. Photo by Olaina Anderson

3. Greek Theater Purpose: to worship Dionysus, god of wine Purpose: to worship Dionysus, god of wine Audience: Athenians Audience: Athenians Photo by Olaina Anderson The Theater and area of the Sanctuary of Dionysus. The oldest theater in the world The oldest theater in the world Plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles & Euripides performed here Plays by Aeschylus, Sophocles & Euripides performed here Theater was banned in other city-states Theater was banned in other city-states

4. The Great Dionysia: Festival of Dionysus Athens: the first city to organize the Great Dionysia Athens: the first city to organize the Great Dionysia Annual theater contest Annual theater contest at the end of Marchat the end of March to celebrate the coming of spring andto celebrate the coming of spring and honor Dionysus Chief Magistrate chose competitors:Chief Magistrate chose competitors: three tragic poets and five comic poets tragedians submitted four plays each; three connected with a common subject (trilogy)tragedians submitted four plays each; three connected with a common subject (trilogy) contest lasted four dayscontest lasted four days

5. Production of the Great Dionysia Chief Magistrate chose: Chief Magistrate chose: rich citizens to be the choregoirich citizens to be the choregoi great honor to be chosen great honor to be chosen paid for masks, costumes, flute player and chorus trainer paid for masks, costumes, flute player and chorus trainer selected, fed and housed chorus selected, fed and housed chorus three actors for each playthree actors for each play their salaries were paid for by the state their salaries were paid for by the state

6. Celebration of the Great Dionysia City celebrated for 3-4 days prior to competition City celebrated for 3-4 days prior to competition Image of Dionysus Image of Dionysus carried around city while citizens sang, drank and dancedcarried around city while citizens sang, drank and danced brought to theater, placed in the middle of the orchestrabrought to theater, placed in the middle of the orchestra Main contest ensued for the next four days Main contest ensued for the next four days Performances started early in the morning and lasted until late afternoon Performances started early in the morning and lasted until late afternoon Considered a civic duty to attend the plays Considered a civic duty to attend the plays prisoners were freed on bail during the celebrationprisoners were freed on bail during the celebration state paid for those too poor to pay admissionstate paid for those too poor to pay admission

7. The winners Judges submitted the winner’s names on clay tablets Judges submitted the winner’s names on clay tablets Awards: Awards: First place: a bullFirst place: a bull Second place: wineSecond place: wine Third place: a goatThird place: a goat Chorogos crowned and given a bronze tripod which he placed on a pillarChorogos crowned and given a bronze tripod which he placed on a pillar Official inscription at the god’s Sanctuary, recording the names of the chief magistrate, the winning poets, plays, and protagonistsOfficial inscription at the god’s Sanctuary, recording the names of the chief magistrate, the winning poets, plays, and protagonists

8. Three Basic Parts of a Theater Orchestra (focal point of song and dance; linked to worship of Dionysus) Skene (for storage of props, costumes, special effects devices) Cavea (seating area) Photo by Olaina Anderson The Odeion of Herodes Atticus.

9. Seating Photo by Olaina Anderson Stadium seats. Seats for priests and dignitaries, often with names of officials carved into them.

10. Greek Chorus “choros” means “dance” (think choreography) “choros” means “dance” (think choreography) Group of singers/actors who chanted and danced Group of singers/actors who chanted and danced Members were young amateur male actors Members were young amateur male actors Originally 12 members Originally 12 members

11. Greek Chorus Purpose: Purpose: reflect public opinionreflect public opinion offer adviceoffer advice warn characters of consequenceswarn characters of consequences summarize plotsummarize plot offer suggestionsoffer suggestions Sophocles’ influence: Sophocles’ influence: increased chorus from 12 to 15 actorsincreased chorus from 12 to 15 actors

12. Four Great Classical Poets Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.) Aeschylus (525-456 B.C.) Father of tragedyFather of tragedy Added second actor, creating dialogueAdded second actor, creating dialogue Sophocles (496-406 B.C.) Sophocles (496-406 B.C.) Added third actor, creating greater plot and more dialogueAdded third actor, creating greater plot and more dialogue Added painted wooden surfaces for sceneryAdded painted wooden surfaces for scenery 120 plays, seven extant120 plays, seven extant Won 24 times, 18 at the Great Dionysia (beat Aeschylus his mentor the first time in 468 B.C.)Won 24 times, 18 at the Great Dionysia (beat Aeschylus his mentor the first time in 468 B.C.) Euripides (485-406 B.C.) Euripides (485-406 B.C.) Added the prologueAdded the prologue Aristophanes (445- 380 B.C.) Aristophanes (445- 380 B.C.) Contemporary of Plato and SocratesContemporary of Plato and Socrates

13. Sophocles (496-406 B.C.) Born at Colonus near Athens Born at Colonus near Athens Wealthy family; armor factory Wealthy family; armor factory Interested in public matters, but not active in politics Interested in public matters, but not active in politics Treasurer of Athenian League, at age 53 Treasurer of Athenian League, at age 53 Strategos (general) twice, but not militarily gifted Strategos (general) twice, but not militarily gifted Member of group to reform constitution Member of group to reform constitution Accepted traditional religion and gods Accepted traditional religion and gods Promoted man rather than gods in plays Promoted man rather than gods in plays

14. Oedipus the King Athenian audience knew the story— Aeschylus had written and performed it before Sophocles Athenian audience knew the story— Aeschylus had written and performed it before Sophocles Oedipus murdered his father and married his mother Oedipus murdered his father and married his mother Oedipus solved the riddle of the sphynx Oedipus solved the riddle of the sphynx

15. Delphi Photo by Olaina Anderson

16. Delphi Agora Photo by Olaina Anderson

17. Bibliography The Greeks Crucible of Civilization. PBS.org. 1995-2004. Kokkinou, S. and N. Vrisimtzis. Greek Temples and Theaters. Athens: Intercarta. 1994. Tsakos, Konstantinos. The Acropolis: The monuments and the museum, a guide to the history and archaeology. Athens: Hesperos. 2000.