Greek Theater

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Greek Theater

• An introduction to Oedipus Rex

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Golden Age of Athens

• Athens political and military power in Greece
• period from 480-406 BC famous for flourishing
  political and cultural life
• dramatic arts at center of cultural achievements
• ended with Peloponnesian War

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Greek Theater

• theater evolved from festivals of Dionysus (god
  of fertility and wine)
• Thespis (500s BC) created a solo drama
• one actor performs with masks for different
  characters
• considered first Greek actor
• Aeschylus (471 BC) added a second actor
• dialogue became possible
• Sophocles (468 BC) added third actor
• more complex dramatic situations
• still used masks to indicate different characters

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Parts of a Greek Theater
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Layout of Greek Theater

• Orchestra
• literally dancing space
• normally circular at center thymele (altar)
• group of people (chorus) sing, dance, interact
  with actors on stage
• Theatron
• literally viewing space
• where audience sat
• usually part of hillside overlooking orchestra

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Layout of Greek Theater cont.

• Skene
• literally tent
• building directly behind stage
• decorated as palace, temple or other building
• doors to make entrances/exits
• Parados
• literally passageways
• paths for entrances and exits

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Pictures of Theaters
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Sophocles (c. 496-406 BC)

• born in Colonus, Greece and died in Athens
• son of wealthy merchant
• studied all of the arts
• plays produced at the Great Dionysia in Athens
• annual festival honoring Dionysus
• ended with dramatic competitions
• won first prize gt20 times in competition
• wrote gt100 tragedies (8 survived)
• Oedipus Rex, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone
• Electra, Philoctetes, Ajax, Ichneutai, The
  Trachiniae

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Oedipus Rex

• most famous tragedy ever written
• first produced in Athens c. 430 BC
• Aristotle praised it for its exemplary,
  well-constructed plot, which is capable of
  inspiring fear and pity
• Greek term to know
• hubris a type of fatal flaw - pride

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Aristotles Elements of a Tragedy
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THE END
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