Greek DramaGreek Drama

Background NotesBackground Notes

Out of RitualOut of RitualChurch services or rituals are forms Church services or rituals are forms

of dramaof drama

Greek drama came from religious Greek drama came from religious rituals honoring Dionysos – the god rituals honoring Dionysos – the god of wine and fertilityof wine and fertility

During the celebrations there was During the celebrations there was singing of hymns and dancingsinging of hymns and dancing

During the 6During the 6thth century B.C, these century B.C, these celebrations became annual festivals.celebrations became annual festivals.

Thespis – a man that changed the Thespis – a man that changed the hymns into songs and told stories of hymns into songs and told stories of famous heroes or other gods.famous heroes or other gods.

Thespis also had one chorus member Thespis also had one chorus member step up and play that part of the hero or step up and play that part of the hero or god.god.

Dionysia – The festival held at large Dionysia – The festival held at large outdoor amphitheater and they began outdoor amphitheater and they began competing for prizescompeting for prizes

This actor would wear a mask and This actor would wear a mask and enter into dialogue with the chorus.enter into dialogue with the chorus.

Drama, as we know it, was born Drama, as we know it, was born when the playwright, Aeschylus, when the playwright, Aeschylus, added a second actor to the added a second actor to the performance creating the possibility performance creating the possibility for conflict.for conflict.

Thespis is immortalized in the word Thespis is immortalized in the word “thespian,” which refers to an actor “thespian,” which refers to an actor or actress.or actress.

By the end of the 5By the end of the 5thth century B.C. the century B.C. the Dionysia had become a 4 day eventDionysia had become a 4 day event

As many as 14,000 spectators would As many as 14,000 spectators would gather at the Theater of Dionysos to gather at the Theater of Dionysos to watch the performances.watch the performances.

The performances included The performances included tragedies, comedies, and satirestragedies, comedies, and satires

The Theater of DionysosThe Theater of Dionysos

Looked like a semicircular football Looked like a semicircular football stadiumstadium

Seats were carved into the hillsideSeats were carved into the hillside In front there was a space for the In front there was a space for the

orchestra, chorus, and the alter orchestra, chorus, and the alter honoring Dionysoshonoring Dionysos

Behind the orchestra was the Behind the orchestra was the platform where the performances platform where the performances took placetook place

Props, if any, were large and simple. Props, if any, were large and simple. The theaters were so large and so The theaters were so large and so much was going on that they wanted much was going on that they wanted to avoid too many distractions.to avoid too many distractions.

The actors spoke behind huge masksThe actors spoke behind huge masks

These masks served 2 purposes:These masks served 2 purposes:To amplify the voicesTo amplify the voicesSo the actors could play more than one partSo the actors could play more than one part

In ancient Greece, religion and In ancient Greece, religion and dramatic “entertainment” were one dramatic “entertainment” were one and the same thingand the same thing

Song and DanceSong and Dance

Song and dance by the choruses and Song and dance by the choruses and the accompanying music of the piper the accompanying music of the piper were vital to the overall impact of were vital to the overall impact of each show.each show.

Movements had to be dramatic Movements had to be dramatic because the theaters were so large because the theaters were so large and open that people would not be and open that people would not be able to see tiny movements.able to see tiny movements.

Off-stage noises were important to Off-stage noises were important to setting the tone of the scene.setting the tone of the scene.

Myth – an old story, coming from a Myth – an old story, coming from a particular society, that explains a particular society, that explains a belief, a ritual, or some mysterious belief, a ritual, or some mysterious aspect of natureaspect of nature

Myths may also try to explain human Myths may also try to explain human suffering in terms of the workings of suffering in terms of the workings of the gods – of fates that cannot be the gods – of fates that cannot be avoided, of curses that haunt avoided, of curses that haunt generation after generationgeneration after generation

MythsMyths

MedeaMedeaMedea was the granddaughter of Medea was the granddaughter of

the Sun and daughter of Aeetes – the Sun and daughter of Aeetes – King of Colchis.King of Colchis.

Because she was part immortal, Because she was part immortal, Medea had special magical Medea had special magical powers. She considered herself a powers. She considered herself a sorceress.sorceress.

In Aeetes’ kingdom there was the In Aeetes’ kingdom there was the Golden Fleece – a treasure that Golden Fleece – a treasure that was guarded by a dragon.was guarded by a dragon.

JasonJason

Jason was the rightful king of the Jason was the rightful king of the Greek state Iolcus (modern Volos).Greek state Iolcus (modern Volos).

While he was too young to rule, his While he was too young to rule, his uncle Pelias reigned in his place.uncle Pelias reigned in his place.

When Jason was old enough to rule, When Jason was old enough to rule, Pelias refused to give up the throne.Pelias refused to give up the throne.

Pelias sent Jason to retrieve the Pelias sent Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece in exchange for the Golden Fleece in exchange for the throne.throne.

Jason and the ArgonautsJason and the Argonauts

Jason and fifty other men set out on Jason and fifty other men set out on the the ArgosArgos, the first long ship, in , the first long ship, in search of the Golden Fleece.search of the Golden Fleece.

After many perilous adventures, they After many perilous adventures, they reached Colchis – the home of the reached Colchis – the home of the Golden Fleece and Medea.Golden Fleece and Medea.

Aeetes told Jason that he could have Aeetes told Jason that he could have the Golden Fleece if he could perform a the Golden Fleece if he could perform a series of difficult tasks.series of difficult tasks.

Aeetes believed that these tasks were Aeetes believed that these tasks were too difficult.too difficult.

But, he did not know that Jason had a But, he did not know that Jason had a divine protector, the goddess Queen divine protector, the goddess Queen Hera.Hera.

Hera persuaded Aphrodite, the Hera persuaded Aphrodite, the goddess of love, to make Medea fall in goddess of love, to make Medea fall in love with Jason.love with Jason.

With the help of Medea’s magic With the help of Medea’s magic powers, Jason was able to accomplish powers, Jason was able to accomplish all the tasks.all the tasks.

Because Medea betrayed her father, Because Medea betrayed her father, she was forced to flee Colchis with she was forced to flee Colchis with Jason and return to his homeland of Jason and return to his homeland of Greece.Greece.

Medea’s brother Apsyrtus was Medea’s brother Apsyrtus was murdered.murdered.

There are different versions as to how.There are different versions as to how.

In one version he his murdered while traveling In one version he his murdered while traveling with Medea and Jason back to Greece.with Medea and Jason back to Greece.

In other versions it is said by Jason that Medea In other versions it is said by Jason that Medea killed her brother back at home.killed her brother back at home.

After many more adventures the After many more adventures the ArgosArgos returned to Iolcus where Pelias returned to Iolcus where Pelias was still king.was still king.

Medea again used her magical skills Medea again used her magical skills to show Pelias’ daughters how to to show Pelias’ daughters how to make their father young again.make their father young again.

Medea cut a ram into pieces and Medea cut a ram into pieces and boiled the pieces with magic herbs – boiled the pieces with magic herbs – the ram emerged as a newborn lamb.the ram emerged as a newborn lamb.

When the daughters cut up and When the daughters cut up and boiled Pelias, Medea withheld the boiled Pelias, Medea withheld the crucial herbs.crucial herbs.

Medea and Jason were forced to flee Medea and Jason were forced to flee again and arrived in Corinth.again and arrived in Corinth.

Several years later is where our play, Several years later is where our play, Medea,Medea, begins. begins.