Greek Theater Final

Kurios

Male head of the household, influencing familial authority and relationships.

Thesmophoria

A festival dedicated to Demeter and Persephone, celebrated by women.

Maenads / Bacchae

Female followers of Dionysus, depicted as ecstatic worshippers in theater.

Sicilian Expedition (415 BCE)

A disastrous Athenian military campaign that critiques Athenian imperialism.

Castor

One of the Dioscuri, sibling of Clytemnestra, symbolizing brotherly loyalty.

Polydeuces

Brother of Helen and another twin of the Dioscuri, appearing in divine roles.

Dioscuri

Collective name for Castor and Polydeuces; often resolve plotlines in plays.

Hippolyte

Queen of the Amazons, associated with myths of Heracles and Theseus.

Amazons

A race of warrior women symbolizing challenges to traditional gender roles.

Pasiphae

Wife of King Minos, mother of the Minotaur; explores themes of unnatural desire.

Hubris

Excessive pride leading to downfall, central in many Greek tragedies.

Spartoi

Mythical 'sown men' from dragon's teeth planted by Cadmus.

Eros

God of love, representing desire that complicates characters' actions.

Linear B tablets

Ancient scripts used for record-keeping in Mycenaean Greece.

Agenor

Phoenician king and father of Cadmus and Europa, representing migration themes.

Cadmus

Founder of Thebes, often referenced in Theban plays.

Semele

Mother of Dionysus by Zeus, killed when Zeus revealed his true form.

Agave

Mother of Pentheus in The Bacchae, symbolizes divine intervention.

Actaeon

A hunter torn apart by dogs after seeing Artemis, symbolizing punishment.

Theomachia

A battle between gods, depicted as influencing mortals' lives.

Etiology

A narrative explaining the origin of customs or phenomena.

Thiasos

Group of Dionysian worshippers representing collective ecstasy.

Thyrsoi

Staffs carried by Dionysus and followers, symbolizing divine power.

Oreibasia

Ritualistic procession of Dionysian worshippers to the mountains.

Omophagia

Ritual eating of raw flesh by Dionysian followers, symbolizing communion.

Sparagmos

Tearing apart of a living entity in Dionysian rituals, representing violence.

Entheos

State of divine possession or inspiration, particularly in Dionysian worship.

Echion

Father of Pentheus, linked to the Spartoi and Theban myths.

Pentheus

King in The Bacchae whose resistance to Dionysus leads to his downfall.

Mania

Madness or frenzy, often examined through characters influenced by gods.

Sophia

Wisdom or cleverness used to navigate moral dilemmas in plays.

Theomachos

One who battles against the gods, relevant to characters like Pentheus.

Komodia

An early form of comedy evolving into the comedic genre of Greek theater.

Komos

A festive procession associated with comedy and Dionysian worship.

Archilochus (650 BCE)

An early Greek poet influential in lyric poetry and choral elements.

Aristophanes (450-385)

Master of Old Comedy known for humor blended with social commentary.

Cratinus (career: 454-423)

Prominent comic playwright known for satirical works against contemporary figures.

Eupolis (career: 429-411)

Comic playwright known for sharp wit and political satire in Old Comedy.

Parabasis

A section in Old Comedy where the chorus directly addresses the audience.

Aigospotami

Site of a decisive Spartan naval victory, critiquing Athenian military strategy.

Phrynicus

Early tragedian who pioneered elements of Greek tragedy influencing others.

Arginusae (battle)

A naval battle where Athens defeated Sparta, exploring victory's costs.

Batrachoi

The chorus of frogs in Aristophanes' The Frogs, providing comic relief.

Choreophaios

Leader of the chorus, guiding the performance and interacting with actors.

Arginusae

Event where slaves were granted citizenship for serving in battle.

Litys

A type of song or lament used in choral performances to express sorrow.

Philomela

Sister of Procne who is raped by tereus

Euelpides

Character in Aristophanes' The Birds, seeking a utopian society.

Peisetaerus

Protagonist of The Birds who convinces birds to build a city in the sky.

Tereus

King punished for sexual crimes, turned into a bird in myth.

Procne

Wife of Tereus, takes revenge for his crimes in a tragic narrative.

Itys

Son of Procne and Tereus who was eaten, representing consequences of betrayal.

Theogony

The birth of the gods as described by Hesiod; explored humorously in The Birds.

Melos

Athenians massacring the island of meloss after the people did not want to join the war effort. Referenced in the birds.