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Greek Tragedy Everything you wanted to know about Greek tragedy but were afraid to ask Adapted from www.clas.ufl.edu/users/jrea/Greek%2520Tragedy

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Page 1: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Greek Tragedy

Everything you wanted to know about Greek tragedy but were

afraid to ask

Adapted from www.clas.ufl.edu/users/jrea/Greek%2520Tragedy

Page 2: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

What are we going to talk about?

The Origins of Tragedy

Which Cities Performed Tragedy

When Tragedy was Performed

The Parts of a Greek Theater

The Theaters Themselves

The Major Playwrights

The Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged

- number of actors

- the costumes

- the masks

- the audience

Page 3: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Origins of Tragedy

Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in honor of Dionysos

Arion of Methymna (7th century) was the first to write a choral song, practice it with a chorus, and perform it

Lasus of Hermione was the first to do it at Athens

Connected with the worship of Dionysos in Athens

Page 4: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Origins of Tragedy

Thespis of Corinth

The first travelling actor

Active c. 538-28 BCE

Added prologue and speech to choral performance

Said to have invented the mask

Page 5: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

When Was Tragedy Performed?

City Dionysia @ Athens

- aka “Greater Dionysia”

- end of March

Rural Dionysia

- different demes had performances

- “off-Broadway”

- various dates in December

The Lenaea

- less prestigious

- sometime in late January/early February

Page 6: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Where Was Tragedy Performed?

almost every Greek city had a theater

Theaters could be very small or huge

Each theater had specific parts

Usually in the center of the city

Page 7: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Parts of a Theater

The Orchestra

The acting area

semi-circular

Had a small altar to Dionysos in the center

Where the Chorus danced and the actors spoke

Page 8: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Parts of a Theater

The Skene

The large backdrop

Could be decorated with scenery

Where the action actually took place (hidden)

Roof was accessible

Originally one door in the center, but eventually had three doors

Page 9: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Skene

Page 10: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Parts of a Theater

The Ekkyklēma

A wheeled platform

Used to display set pieces

Agamemnon

The Mēchanē

a large crane

Used for the entrance of gods

Deus ex machina

Page 11: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Theaters

Theater of Dionysos

Athens

Main theater for tragedy

4th century remains

c. 20,000 seats

Located on side of Acropolis

Page 12: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Theater of Dionysos

Page 13: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Theater of Dionysos

Page 14: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Theaters

Theater of Epidauros

The best-preserved

Largest surviving theater

Located near Argos

in the Peloponnesus

Sanctuary of Aesclepius

Still in use today

Page 15: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Theater of Epidauros

Page 16: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Theater of Epidauros

Page 17: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Theaters

Theater of Pergamon

In Asia Minor (Turkey)

Extremely steep seating

Fit to the terrain

Pergamon one of the most wealthy Asian cities

Page 18: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Theater of Pergamon

Page 19: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Playwrights

Three major tragedians

Aeschylus

Sophocles

Euripides

All active in the 5th century

All won first place in multiple competitions

Only Athenian plays survive

Page 20: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Aeschylus

b. 525 d. 456 (Sicily) Fought at Marathon

“Aeschylus, Euphorion's son of Athens, lies under this stone dead in Gela among the white wheatlands; a man at need good in fight -- witness the hallowed field of Marathon, witness the long-haired Mede.”

First tragedy 499 First first prize 484 (13

overall)

Page 21: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Aeschylus

Introduced the second actor

Wrote over 70 plays (seven survive)

Always revered

Main interest is in situation and event rather than character

Oresteia, Seven Against Thebes

Pericles directed the chorus for Persians

Both sons were very successful playwrights

Page 22: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Sophocles

b. 496 d. 406

Served as a general with Pericles (441)

Very active in city politics (413)

First tragedy 468

First first prize 468

Won 18 first prizes

Never finished third

Page 23: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Sophocles

Introduced the third actor

Wrote over 120 plays (seven survive)

The most successful of the Big Three

Challenged conventional mores

Introduced more dialogue between characters (less Chorus)

Oedipus Tyrannus, Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, Electra

Page 24: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Euripides

b. 485 d. 406 (in Macedonia)

Not active militarily or politically

First tragedy 455

First first prize 441

Won only four first prizes

The least successful of the Big Three

Page 25: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

Euripides

No innovations on the stage

Wrote ninety plays (19 survive)

Sophocles: “I present men as they ought to be, Euripides presents men as they are.”

More realistic than the other two

Alcestis, Medea, Hippolytus, Bacchae, Orestes

Page 26: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Staging of Tragedy

“Classical theater resembled today’s rock concerts: the audience knew every number by heart, performers wore high heels, loud costumes and heavy make-up, and they relied on background singers, known as the Chorus.” -Howard Tomb

Page 27: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Staging of Tragedy

“The audience knew every number by heart…”

Most tragedies dealt with mythological themes

“Performers wore high heels, loud costumes and heavy make-up…”

They wore elaborate clothes, tall boots, and masks

“They relied on background singers, known as the Chorus.”

Especially after the introduction of the third actor

Page 28: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Staging of Tragedy - Actors

Maximum of three actors

Aeschylus second

Sophocles third

All roles played by men

Same group of actors for each set of plays for each author

Page 29: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Staging of Tragedy - Actors

Playwrights did not act in their own plays after Sophocles

Chorus publicly funded

A choregos would pay for and train the chorus

Viewed as a civic duty

Could be prosecuted for failing to do it wealthy enough

Choregos got a monument if his chorus won

Page 30: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Staging of Tragedy - Costumes

Actor wore:

Mask

Robes

Platform boots (kothornoi)

Chorus could be in costume (comedy)

Page 31: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Staging of Tragedy - Masks

The most salient feature

All parts by men, so mask depicted gender

Acted as a megaphone

Voice inflection paramount

Multiple Masks = Multiple Characters

Only three actors

More than three speaking roles, need for costume and mask change

Oedipus and his eyes

Page 32: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Audience

Any male could attend Women most likely able to attend

Aeschylus’ Furies

State funded attendance Cost was the average daily wage of a laborer

Theoric Fund

Never suspended, even when Athens in dire straights

Supplied public tickets

“Must-see TV”

Page 33: Greek TragedyThe Way a Greek Tragedy Was Staged - number of actors - the costumes - the masks - the audience The Origins of Tragedy Originated from the dithyramb: a choral song in

The Audience

Catharsis

“learning through suffering”

Moderation is to be sought in all things, even good things

The mighty fall so far that we admire them for being so high

A spiritual cleansing of the audience

Performances emotional


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