Greek Religion, Theater, and Sports

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Greek Religion, Theater, and Sports
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1. Religious Practices

• No single Greek religion, but held similar
  beliefs
• Polis officials in charge of public feasts and
  sacrifices

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1. Religious Practices (cont.)

• Head of family in charge of prayer

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1. Religious Practices (cont.)

• Priests served as oracles (persons who could
  speak with the gods)

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1. Religious Practices (cont.)

• Prophecy statement of what might happen in the
  future

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1. Religious Practices (cont.)

• Worshipped gods of Mt. Olympus
• 12 major gods and goddesses
• Built temples to honor gods

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2. The Olympics

• Every 4 years, festival in Olympia to honor Zeus

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2. The Olympics (cont.)

• Most important sporting event in Greece
• War stopped during this time
• No teams
• Only men were allowed to participate/watch

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2. The Olympics (cont.)

• Chariot races, boxing, pancratium (boxing/
  wrestling), pentathlon (5 events)

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2. The Olympics (cont.)

• Olympic winners were considered heroes

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2. The Olympics (cont.)

• First recorded date in Greek history was the 1st
  Olympics (776 BC)

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3. Theater

• Grew out of festivals given in honor of Dionysus

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3. Theater (cont.)

• Made up of choruses and soliloquies (talks in
  which personal thoughts and feelings were
  expressed to the audience)

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3. Theater (cont.)

• Acting evolved from choruses and soliloquies
• Aeschylus created the 1st play

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3. Theater (cont.)

• 1st plays were tragedies stories about
  suffering
• Written by Sophocles, Euripdes, Aeschylus
• Comedies came next plays with happy endings
• Written by Aristophanes

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3. Theater (cont.)

• Performed at community festivals
• Tragedies in the morning, comedies in the
  afternoon

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3. Theater (cont.)

• All performers were men, but women could watch
• Actors wore comedy and tragedy masks portraying
  their characters
• Plays were given in open-air theaters

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3. Theater (cont.)

• Believed that public support of the theater was a
  responsibility