Greek TheatreGreek Theatre

OverviewOverview

Oedipus the Oedipus the KingKing

MythologyMythology

Overview of Greek TheatreOverview of Greek Theatre The landThe land

The mythsThe myths

The stageThe stage

The LandThe Land

Greece has thousands of inhabited Greece has thousands of inhabited islands and dramatic mountain islands and dramatic mountain rangesranges

Greece has a rich culture and historyGreece has a rich culture and history Democracy was founded in GreeceDemocracy was founded in Greece Patriarchal (male dominated) societyPatriarchal (male dominated) society Philosophy, as a practice, began in Philosophy, as a practice, began in

Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)

The LandThe Land

Located in Europe in Located in Europe in the Aegean Seathe Aegean Sea

The LandThe Land

The StageThe Stage

The StageThe StageThree Main Portions of Greek Theatre:

Skene – Portion of stage where actors performed (included 1-3 doors in and out)

Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience

Theatron – Seating for audience

The StageThe Stage

The StageThe Stage

Where and how were the dramas Where and how were the dramas performed?performed?

•Once a year•In an amphitheatre•Free!•With a chorus who described most of the action.•With masks•With all the violence off stage•With tragedy first, then comedy later.

Elements of Greek TheatreElements of Greek Theatre

Storytelling of gods, heroes and Storytelling of gods, heroes and battles would be told by traveling battles would be told by traveling actors.actors. Tragic trilogies involved epic myths from Tragic trilogies involved epic myths from

Greek mythologyGreek mythology Priests would organize chorusesPriests would organize choruses Playwrights decided to combine Playwrights decided to combine

stories and choruses to create plays stories and choruses to create plays (mostly tragedies, “goat song”)(mostly tragedies, “goat song”)

Dithyramb FestivalDithyramb Festival

A festival in the name of the A festival in the name of the god Dionysus (wine, god Dionysus (wine, fertility, theatre and fertility, theatre and madness)madness)

7 day event:7 day event:1.1. Honour of Dionysus’s story; Honour of Dionysus’s story;

sacrifice bullsacrifice bull

2.2. Dythyrambic Competition (choric Dythyrambic Competition (choric hymn/dance) Boys against Menhymn/dance) Boys against Men

3.3. 5 comedies presented (crude and 5 comedies presented (crude and underdeveloped)underdeveloped)

4.4. 3 tragedies and 1 satire presented 3 tragedies and 1 satire presented in the course of 3 daysin the course of 3 days

7.7. AwardsAwards

PerformersPerformers

Chorus: Group of 25-30 Chorus: Group of 25-30 older men to help inform older men to help inform audience, through chant, of audience, through chant, of characters’ actions / motives.characters’ actions / motives.

Actors: All men, wearing Actors: All men, wearing colourful costumes and exaggerated masks to colourful costumes and exaggerated masks to

bebeeasily identified.easily identified.

Thespis: Famous actor to first limit chorus to 15, Thespis: Famous actor to first limit chorus to 15, engage in dialogue with them, and use masks.engage in dialogue with them, and use masks.

Major Greek DramatistsMajor Greek Dramatists

DramatistDramatist BornBorn WroteWrote

AeschylusAeschylus 524 B.C.524 B.C. Seven Against Seven Against ThebesThebes

SophoclesSophocles 496 B.C.496 B.C. OedipusOedipus

AntigoneAntigone

EuripidesEuripides 480 B.C.480 B.C. MedeaMedea

Play formatPlay format

PROLOGUEPROLOGUE (introduction) (introduction) PARADOSPARADOS (entrance of chorus) (entrance of chorus) EPISODES & STASIMAEPISODES & STASIMA (dialogue & (dialogue &

chorus interludes)chorus interludes) EXODUS EXODUS (actors leave stage)(actors leave stage)

Sophocles (496-406 BCE)Sophocles (496-406 BCE) Wrote 113 plays, only 7 survivingWrote 113 plays, only 7 surviving Tragic playwright believed in recognizing the inevitability of Tragic playwright believed in recognizing the inevitability of

suffering (fate)suffering (fate) Focus on single individual (tragic hero) who must learn Focus on single individual (tragic hero) who must learn

about himself and the nature of universal justiceabout himself and the nature of universal justice Included only the part of the Oedipus myth that allows for Included only the part of the Oedipus myth that allows for

this understandingthis understanding Psychological – fallibility of humans who despite nobility, Psychological – fallibility of humans who despite nobility,

marred by fatal errormarred by fatal error InnovationInnovation

added a 3added a 3rdrd actor, introducing concept of ‘perspective’ actor, introducing concept of ‘perspective’ reduced and modified chorus to be more inclusivereduced and modified chorus to be more inclusive included dramatic ironyincluded dramatic irony Painted background sceneryPainted background scenery

Sophocles’s Sophocles’s Oedipus the KingOedipus the King

AKA Oedipus Tyrannus or Oedipus AKA Oedipus Tyrannus or Oedipus RexRex

Written about 430 BCE and Written about 430 BCE and performed in Athensperformed in Athens

Set in Thebes (a city in ancient Set in Thebes (a city in ancient Greece)Greece)

The play is read like a ‘whodunnit’ in The play is read like a ‘whodunnit’ in which Oedipus is searching for the which Oedipus is searching for the the King’s killer (himself)the King’s killer (himself)

Oedipus’s pastOedipus’s past Oracle prophesied to Laius (King of Thebes) that he would Oracle prophesied to Laius (King of Thebes) that he would

be killed by his son and his son would marry his own be killed by his son and his son would marry his own mother.mother.

They ordered the son to be killed, but the shepherd took They ordered the son to be killed, but the shepherd took pity and took him to Corinth where he was adopted by King pity and took him to Corinth where he was adopted by King Polybus and his baron Queen.Polybus and his baron Queen.

Upon adulthood, Oedipus saw the Oracle who told him of Upon adulthood, Oedipus saw the Oracle who told him of the prophesy. He vowed to never return to Corinth. the prophesy. He vowed to never return to Corinth. Wandering, he met and killed Laius, thinking he and his Wandering, he met and killed Laius, thinking he and his men were robbers. He moved on to Thebes.men were robbers. He moved on to Thebes.

A Sphinx was attacking Thebes until someone solved its A Sphinx was attacking Thebes until someone solved its riddle. Oedipus solved it and was crowned King, marrying riddle. Oedipus solved it and was crowned King, marrying the widow Queen (his mother).the widow Queen (his mother).

Years later (this is the beginning of the play), a plague Years later (this is the beginning of the play), a plague descended on the land and would remain until Laius’s descended on the land and would remain until Laius’s murderer be punished. Oedipus soon discovers he did it, murderer be punished. Oedipus soon discovers he did it, and after Jocasta commits suicide, he digs out his eyes and and after Jocasta commits suicide, he digs out his eyes and eventually flees Thebes with his daughter Antigone.eventually flees Thebes with his daughter Antigone.

Riddle 1Riddle 1

2 travelers on a path, 1 in front, 1 in back2 travelers on a path, 1 in front, 1 in back The one in front is the son of the one in The one in front is the son of the one in

backback But the one in back is not the father of the But the one in back is not the father of the

one in frontone in front How are they related?How are they related?

The one in back is his motherThe one in back is his mother

Riddle 2Riddle 2 You’re on a path and come to a fork. You’re on a path and come to a fork.

One way leads to town; the other to a One way leads to town; the other to a forest. You need to get to town, but forest. You need to get to town, but don’t know which path to take.don’t know which path to take.

Two brothers standing at the fork Two brothers standing at the fork know. One always lies; the other know. One always lies; the other always tells the truth.always tells the truth.

You’re allowed one question to find You’re allowed one question to find your way to town. What do you ask?your way to town. What do you ask?

Ask either of them: “Which path would Ask either of them: “Which path would your brother say leads to town?” Then your brother say leads to town?” Then take the opposite path.take the opposite path.

Things to Look for in OedipusThings to Look for in Oedipus

Dramatic ironyDramatic irony Concept of fateConcept of fate Characterization of OedipusCharacterization of Oedipus Role of and belief in the godsRole of and belief in the gods Blindness, truth and knowledgeBlindness, truth and knowledge DiseaseDisease Nature of the conflictNature of the conflict Concept of transgression-violation of a Concept of transgression-violation of a

law, command or dutylaw, command or duty

Sophocles’ Sophocles’ AntigoneAntigone

Set in Thebes (a city in ancient Greece)Set in Thebes (a city in ancient Greece) Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and

JocastaJocasta Antigone’s brothers, Eteokles and Antigone’s brothers, Eteokles and

Polyneces, took opposite sides in a warPolyneces, took opposite sides in a war Eteokles and Polyneces killed each Eteokles and Polyneces killed each

other in battleother in battle Antigone’s uncle, Kreon, became king of Antigone’s uncle, Kreon, became king of

ThebesThebes

Copy Only The Boxed Portion!

Euripides’ Euripides’ MedeaMedea Medea is a princess from ColchisMedea is a princess from Colchis Medea marries Jason, who is in Colchis Medea marries Jason, who is in Colchis

on a quest for the Golden Fleeceon a quest for the Golden Fleece Medea betrays her father and murders Medea betrays her father and murders

her brother for her love of Jasonher brother for her love of Jason Medea has magical powersMedea has magical powers Jason takes Medea back to his Jason takes Medea back to his

homeland, Corinth, where they have homeland, Corinth, where they have childrenchildren

Jason takes another wife, the king of Jason takes another wife, the king of Corinth’s daughterCorinth’s daughter

Jason’s Voyage on the ArgoJason’s Voyage on the Argo

Jason and Medea meet

Corinth: Where Jason and Medea settle down

Myths played a key roleMyths played a key rolein Greek dramain Greek drama

The Myths – Why they were writtenThe Myths – Why they were written

1.1. Explained the unexplainableExplained the unexplainable

2.2. Justified religious practicesJustified religious practices

3.3. Gave credibility to leadersGave credibility to leaders

4.4. Gave hopeGave hope

5.5. Polytheistic (more than one god)Polytheistic (more than one god)

6.6. Centered around the twelve Centered around the twelve Olympians (primary Greek gods)Olympians (primary Greek gods)

Explained the UnexplainableExplained the Unexplainable

When Echo tried to get When Echo tried to get Narcissus to love her, she Narcissus to love her, she was denied.was denied.

Saddened, she shriveled Saddened, she shriveled to nothing, her existence to nothing, her existence melting into a rock.melting into a rock.

Only her voice Only her voice remained.remained.

Hence, the echo!Hence, the echo!

To justify religious practicesTo justify religious practices

Dionysian cults in ancient Greece were Dionysian cults in ancient Greece were founded to worship Dionysus, god of founded to worship Dionysus, god of grapes, vegetation, and wine.grapes, vegetation, and wine.

To give credibility to leadersTo give credibility to leaders

The Romans used The Romans used myths to create myths to create family trees for family trees for

their leaders, their leaders, enforcing the enforcing the

made-up idea that made-up idea that the emperors were the emperors were related to the gods related to the gods

and were, then, and were, then, demigods.demigods.

To give hopeTo give hope The ancient citizens of The ancient citizens of

Greece would sacrifice Greece would sacrifice and pray to an ORACLE.and pray to an ORACLE.

An oracle was a priest An oracle was a priest or priestess who would or priestess who would send a message to the send a message to the gods from mortals who gods from mortals who brought their requests.brought their requests.

Where DID hope come from?

After unleashing suffering, famine, disease, and many other evils, the last thing Pandora let

out was HOPE.

The Oracle at DelphiThe Oracle at Delphi

Most famous oracle in Greek mythology.

Mount Olympus…Mount Olympus…

…Where the

Olympians lived.

Who are the Olympians?

The Olympians Are the 12 Main The Olympians Are the 12 Main GodsGods

Tem

pera

men

ts o

f th

e O

lym

pia

ns

ZeusZeus

King of godsKing of gods HeavenHeaven StormsStorms ThunderThunder lightninglightning

PoseidonPoseidon

Zeus’s brotherZeus’s brother King of the seaKing of the sea EarthquakesEarthquakes HorsesHorses

HadesHades

Brother to Zeus Brother to Zeus and Poseidonand Poseidon

King of the King of the Underworld Underworld (Tartarus)(Tartarus)

Husband of Husband of PersphonePersphone

AresAres

God of warGod of war

HephaestusHephaestus

God of fireGod of fire CraftspeopleCraftspeople MetalworkersMetalworkers ArtisansArtisans

ApolloApollo

God of the sunGod of the sun MusicMusic PoetryPoetry Fine artsFine arts MedicineMedicine

HermesHermes

Messenger to the Messenger to the godsgods

TradeTrade CommerceCommerce TravelersTravelers Thieves & Thieves &

scoundrelsscoundrels

DionysusDionysus

God of WineGod of Wine Partying (Revelry)Partying (Revelry)

HeraHera

Queen of godsQueen of gods WomenWomen MarriageMarriage ChildbirthChildbirth

DemeterDemeter

Goddess of HarvestGoddess of Harvest AgricultureAgriculture FertilityFertility FruitfulnessFruitfulness Mom to Mom to

PersephonePersephone

HestiaHestia

Goddess of HearthGoddess of Hearth HomeHome CommunityCommunity

AthenaAthena

Goddess of wisdomGoddess of wisdom Practical artsPractical arts WarWar

AphroditeAphrodite

Goddess of love Goddess of love and beautyand beauty

ArtemisArtemis

Goddess of hunting Goddess of hunting and the moon.and the moon.

The EndThe End

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