Greek theatre visual resources

where is the Theatre of Dionysus

On the South-Eastern side of the Acropolis, above a sanctuary dedicated to Athena

when was the theatre of Dionysus built

it was built in the second-half of the sixth century BC

what’s the Theatre of Dionysus sometimes known as and why

the Lycurgan theatre, because the leading Athenian statesmen, Lycurgus, rebuilt the theatre in stone (it used to be made from wood) in 342-326 BC

During Roman control, how was the Theatre of Dionysus changed

the size of the Orchestra was decreased while the stage and seating increased

where is the Theatre of Thorikos located and when was it used from

in Thorikos, a village on the south-east coast of Attica, used from the late 6th century BC

what are some feature of the Theatre of Thorikos

it has a capacity of 3,000, it has an oval shape with curved corners for acoustics, there’s a temple/ altar at each end of the performance area, and the seats were inscribed with honours, showing the most important got the best seats

what are some features of the theatre of dionysus

it’s more circular in shape, it had a capacity of 17000, it was on the south-side so protected by wind, andit had an altar to dionysus in the orchestra, showing its popularity

what’s this

an attic red-figure chorus vase called the Perseus dance vase, c. 420 BCE and the artist is unknown

what is an attic red-figure chorus vase used for

it’s a wine jug

what’s unique about the Perseus dance vase

it’s the only attic vase to show a stage and the only ancient greek painting to show a theatre audience

who is this man and what is he holding

that’s Perseus and he’s holding the a sword that looks like a sickle, which he uses to cut Medusa’s head off

what is Perseus doing

he’s dancing or pretending to fly/

what can be said about Perseus’s costume

there are lines around his legs and arms indicating he’s wearing a flesh-coloured body suit and we can see he’s wearing a phallus, showing it might be a comedy

what can we say about the audience

it may be two men, as one is bare-chested, something women in greece would not be allowed to do, suggesting that only men were allowed to watch theatre

where are these two people sitting

the Prohedria (front row), showing they are people of importance.

what is this type of vase called

a calyx krater called Medea’s escape, c. 400 BC and made by the Policoro painter

what are calyx krater’s used as

mixing-bowls

what’s unique about Medea’s escape

it shows the use of the crone and wheel platform

what does Medea’s escape tell us about vases

that we cannot always trust vases to accurately portray the Athenian stage. This is because unlike the play, the vase presents dragons and furies, and we see Medea’s sons have been left behind. In the play, Medea takes her sons so Jason cannot bury them, but could’ve shown another version of the story

why is there a sun in the background?

it helps people identify who the person is, as Medea was Helios’ (god of the son) granddaughter

who is this man and what is he wearing

That’s Jason, wearing animal skin, in a more traditional heroic style. However, this is unusual for a tragic play where actors wore long-sleeves and detailed chitons

what’s this

a red-figure bell krater, called the Wurzburg Telephus vase, c. 380-370 BC and was made by the Schiller painter

what does the Wurzburg Telephus vase show

a scene from one of Aristophanes’ comedies, Woman at the Thesmophoria

where does the Wurzburg Telephus vase get its name

the scene is a parody of Telephus by Euripides, a lost tragedy

where is the scene shown on the Wurzburg vase set

at the all-women festival in which women spent 3 days getting drunk

what’s interesting about the man?

he’s shown as clean-shaven, whereas most male figures on south italian vases were shown as bearded

what aspect of comedy does the vase show

physical comedy

what is the man holding and why is the woman running to it

he’s holding wine skin, and the woman doesn’t want to lose any wine

what does this image tell us about comedy compared to tragedy

that unlike tragedy, comedy used props (four are shown here)

what’s this

it’s a red-figure column krater called the basel dancers vase, the painter is unknown but has mannerist style

when was the basel dancer’s vase made

in 500-490 BCE, so tragedy was still a new art-form

what does the vase depict

a tragic chorus in action in front of a stepped alter

what do the faces of the chorus tell us

we can tell they’re wearing masks due to their gaping mouths

how do we know the vase depicts a chorus not actors

because they are bare foot

what’s going on here

it’s a tomb or alter of some kind, and the person may be a ghost or a statue of Dionysus

what’s this

a volute krater (a mixing-bowl) called the Pronomos vase, c. 410 BC, and made y the Pronomos painter

what does this vase show

actors preparing for a satyr-play

what does this vase help us understand

the types of masks and costumes used in Athens. we can see the masks are quite plain while the costumes are greatly decorated with patterns or animals or people

what role might the person sitting have

they might be a playwright as they’re holding a scroll (possibly a script)

who are these two meant to be

Dionysus and Adrianne

whose this

Pronomos, one of the most famous musicians the last 5th century

what is the name of this vase

Pelike by Phiale, made in 450 BC and shows tragic actors dressing

how do we know the vase depicts actors

they’re wearing long chitons. Chorus members would need to be wearing something they can move quickly in

what’s in the middle of the actors and what is the one on the right doing

an actor’s mask is in the middle and the person on the right is putting on some boots

what’s this

a red-figure bell krater called the Cheiron vase, c. 370 BC and made by the McDaniel painter

what type of scene is being shown

It’s a scene from a comedy as seen by Xanthius’ short tunic and very visible phallus, as well as his full stomach and exaggerated features. Lots of slapstick comedy

who is the character with white hair

Cheiron, with his shaggier eyebrows, staff to walk, and another actor to play his behind

what play is being shown

thought to be a parody of a myth where Cheiron is needed by Apollo, which we can see as the pattern of the banister is one found in Delphi

who might be behind Cheiron

Achilles, who was a student of Cheiron

who are the people in the background

Nymphs, perhaps there to show how Cheiron bathed in a stream sacred to nymphs

what vase is this

it’s a fragment of a calyx krater, called Jocasta and Oedipus the king, c. 330 BC, made by the Capodarso painter

what’s being shown

When Jocasta realises while Oedipus is still unaware, and their daughters are present

how do we know that Jocasta has realised

her hands are at her face, indicating grief and worry

how do we know how Oedipus is feeling

we know he’s puzzled as he’s stroking his beard

How do we know this is a play

there skene is in the background, as well as the position of the characters

who is next to Oedipus

a messenger, who answers Oedipus’ questions

what’s this

a red figure stamnos, named Maenead stamnos, made in the late 5th century and made by the Dinos painter

what are stamnos’ used for

as a wine vessel

what is being shown

a Dionysiac ritual

what are the women doing

dancing around a statue of Dionysus, one plays a thyrus, while another plays the tambourine and another pours whine

how might we know that the statue is of Dionysus

The two stamnoi is a key as he was the god of wine

what can we tell about the women’s hair

it’s tight and flowy, showing they’re letting go, this would be against societal expectations

what is this

a red-figure kylix (drinking cup), called the death of pentheus, c. 480 BC and attributed to Douris

what’s interesting about this vase

this adaptation of Pentheus’ death long predates Euripides, shows he was one of many that was inspired by this myth

who or what is in the background

a satyr, it’s overseeing the event, perhaps as a reminder that this is happening under Dionysus’ watch, this is emphasised by the panther skin

who do historians believe this to be

Agave, as she’s doing something different, holding cloth

what’s being shown

a black-figure chous depicting two chorus-members dressed as birds, c.480 BC, attributed to the Gela painter