Greek Drama and Theatre

Dionysia

Place of religious festival held in the spring

Dithyramb

A hymn sung in honor of the gods

Chorus

a group of about 50 older men who sang and danced

Thespis

father of drama

Aeschylus

Added second actor to plays

Sophocles

Added third actor to plays; writer of Oedipus and Antigone

Euripides

reduced participation of Chorus and relied on heavy prologues

Theatron

“seeing place” where the audience satorch

orchestra

circular dancing place where actors and chorus performed

thymele

altar to dionysus in center of orchestra

skene

building used as dressing room

proskenion

facade of skene building which served as backdrop

parados

entrance to theatre used by chorus

hypocrites

“the answerer” or the actors playing roles

costumes

colored robes, high boots, large masks with exaggerated features

hubris

pride

harmatia

tragic flaw

function of chorus

• sets mood and expresses theme

• adds beauty through song and dance

• gives background information

• divides action and offers reflections on events

• questions, advises, and expresses opinions

anagnorisis

recognition

metabasis

a reversal or change of fortune

catharsis

so engaged in a tragedy that you have a big release

theatre size

up to 14,000 people

proshenion

pressing box