Classical Civilisations - A-Level - Greek Theatre - Key Dates and Terms

431-404 BC

Peloponnesian War between Athens and Sparta

430 BC

Plague breaks out in Athens

430-428? BC

Sophocles' Oedipus the King

After 406 BC

Euripides' Bacchae is posthumously produced

405 BC

Aristophanes' Frogs

404 BC

Peace between Athens and Sparta

'agon'

contest, argument

'anagnorisis'

recognition in drama

'andreia'

Greek concept of 'manliness'

'bia'

force, violence

'choros'

group in performance

12-15 actors

number of actors in a tragic chorus

24 actors

number of actors in a comic chorus

'deus ex machina'

a plot device used when an unexpected occurrence solves a seemingly unsolvable problem

'dike'

justice

'ekkuklema'

A platform on wheels that rolled out of the stage doors

'eleutheria'

freedom

'hamartia'

mistake, tragic error

'katharsis'

purging of emotions

'kleos'

glory, fame

'koruphaios'

leader of the chorus

'muthos'

story, plot

'parados'

entrance song of the chorus

'parthenos/oi'

virgin(s)

'peripeteia'

a sudden reversal of fortune or fate.

'philos/oi'

friend(s), allies

'phronimos'

the wise citizen

'skene/ai'

stage building(s)

'stichomythia'

rapid alternating single lines spoken by two characters

'tragoidos/oi'

tragic actor(s)

'xenos/oi'

foreigner(s)