Prescribed sources - greek theatre

What is the date of this pot?

330 BC

Who does this pot depict?

Messenger from Corinth, Oedipus, Jocasta, Antigone, Ismene

How useful is this pot in showing how Oedipus may have been staged?

Useful:

• Masks
• Messenger addressing audience - actor
• Columns = skene
• Jocasta’s actor shows shock - emotions by actors
• Costumes - Oedipus + Jocasta have rich clothing - messenger’s costume is more shabby

Not useful:

• Shows children - no mention of them in the play - artistic interpretation?
• Pot dated a long time after original production

Where was this fragment of the pot found?

Sicily

What is the date of this pot?

late 5th century BCE

Who is shown on this pot?

Maenads dancing + statue of Dionysus

Where is this pot?

Naples

How useful is this pot in showing a Dionysiac ritual?

Useful:

• Dancing - common feature
• Ivy in Maenads’ hair + loose hair - shows they had lost themselves
• Wine being served
• Statue of Dionysus present
• Thyrsus
• Drum

What is the date of this pot?

400-380 BCE

Who is shown in this pot

Aegisthus, Pyrrhics + choregos

How can we tell Aegisthus is a tragic actor?

• Long chiton
• Solemn expression
• Ornate clothing
• Kothornoi (boots)

How can we tell that the other actors are comic actors?

• grotesque masks
• comedy phalluses
• short tunics
• mostly barefoot
• wrinkly skin suits
• receding hairlines

What stage features can be seen on this pot?

• Skene - the double doors are open
• Stairs to the orchestra
• Stage - the platform they’re standing on

What is the date of this pot?

450 BCE

Key things shown in this vase?

• Kothornoi being put on
• One actor has his mask on, the other mask is on the floor
• They are dressing up like women - the hair on the masks is up like a married woman’s

What are kothornoi?

thin + soft soled boots with the ends turned up to prevent tripping

What is the date of this pot?

410 BCE

What does this pot depict?

a team of actors celebrating with costumes, masks, aulos player, playwright and Dionysus

Who is shown here?

Promos Aulos - Aulos player

Born in Thebes

One of the most famous musicians of the late 5th century

Who is shown here on the left?

Herakles - Club and lionskin

Who is shown here on the right?

Popposilenus

Who is shown here?

Dionysus, Ariadne and Himeros

Who is Himeros?

Greek god of uncontrollable desire

Who is the man with the scroll at the bottom of the vase?

Demetrios - playwright

What is the date of this pot?

500-490 BCE

What shows that these men are the chorus?

• letters coming out of their mouths - shows singing
• All wearing masks - same hair + face shape + gaping mouths
• All wearing military costumes - no helmets because of masks
• All barefoot - chorus went barefoot not soldiers

What is the date of this pot?

380-370 BCE

What play does this pot depict

Women at the Thesmophoria by Aristophanes

How useful is this pot in showing how a comedy by Artistophanes may have been staged?

Useful:

• Props are mentioned in the dialogue (wineskin baby)
• Actions of the actors mirror the text of the play
• Costumes of actors - element of dramatic performance
• Masks - female mask + male mask shaved to look like a woman
• Shows use of props - knife, wineskin, mirror + bowl
• Shows use of staging elements - man is sitting on an altar

Not Useful:

• Only shows two actors
• Doesn’t show skene or orchestra

What is the date of this pot?

400 BCE

How is this vase different to Euripides’ play “Medea”?

• No furies or dragons mentioned in the play
• Sons are in the wrong place

Who is depicted on this pot?

Medea, Jason, furies, tutor, nurse of boys, dead boys

How useful is this pot as a source of information about the staging of greek tragedies?

Not useful:

• Doesn’t show mechanics of mechane or ekkyklema
• Doesn’t show skene or orchestra
• Jason in wrong costume - bare chested - not tragic costume
• Wrong number of actors on stage - 5 when there should be 3

Useful:

• Medea’s costume is ornate - accurate

What is the date of this vase?

420-410 BCE

What is so special about this vase?

It is the only Attic vase to show a stage and the only ancient greek painting to portray a theatre audience

How can we tell this is a comedy?

The actor has a comedy phallus

What are the chairs called?

Klismoi

Who is the actor playing?

Perseus - sickle + bag for medusa

What is unusual about the stage layout?

No orchestra - could be artistic license

Who could the audience members be?

Judges, priests, audience, choregos or playwrights

Is the actor actually naked?

No, he is stage naked - wearing a costume that makes him look naked