Research Paper On Greek Theatre

Ancient Greek theatre performed when there were special occasions also known as festivals. Ancient Greek theatre actors were played

During ancient times, the notorious Oracle and Sanctuary of Apollo lay in close proximity to the theatre. Strategically engineered to harness the acoustic properties of the area, the theatre is composed of a stage, chorus, and amphitheatre. If filled to capacity, the amphitheatre’s thirty-five rows could hold nearly five thousand persons. Long ago, when it was still in use, the people of Greece “enjoyed plays, poetry readings, and many musical events during the various festivals that took place periodically at Delphi” (Ancient-Greece). One such event could have been the Pythian Games, which were held at Delphi every four years. The games were to commemorate the legend that in that spot the god Apollo had killed the monster Python. In accordance with their superstition, the people believed their god to be present at such celebrations. Regardless of such superstitions, the view of the lush underlying valleys from the theatre’s height is acknowledged to be unparalleled.

Theatre became important to Greek cultures when it became a part of the festival honoring the god Dionysus (The god of wine and fertility).”( Greek Mythology in Theater by Bruce Tucker October 27, 2016) The theater festival was founded to bring unity among the Attican tribes.( Greek Mythology in Theater by Bruce Tucker October 27, 2016) Athens was the main center of these traditions. Everyone came to sing and dance in hope for a good harvest. At one point, a Greek named Thespis began to sing praises to the god, with others responding, which led to the actor and chorus. During the festival everyone would dance and sing in a circle, in the middle of which was the altar to Dionysus. Over time the festivals started giving thanks to other themes, and eventually had nothing to do with Dionysus or any god, but began to turn into classical Greek plays. (First Ancient History, Oxford University Press 2000 pg.166)

Stage in most ancient Greek plays was composed of four main areas. The first was around place in which plays and acts were done. The audience sat on the ‘theatron’, then there was the building behind the ‘state’ which was decorated as a temple or a palace called the ‘skene’, the last place was the passageways

The theater was built in the same spot as the original “Globe Theater” with the same design which mimicked The Coliseum”. The arches the original coliseum used were 7.05 meters height and the entire building is 156 meters height. It is so large that at its max it could hold up to 50,000 people inside. “The architectural style of The Globe was similar to the Coliseum in Rome, but on a smaller scale-” The Coliseum was built using many arches as support systems with the fourth story using no using arches but having small rectangular windows.

In ancient Greece festivals were mainly held at the Great Dionysia. This was the oldest theatre in Greece and many plays were performed here for example the first performance of Antigone. The patron of the theatre was the God

When considering ancient Greek life, theater was massively important. This is apparent by the Theater of Dionysius’ placement in the city state of Athens, with its close proximity to the Acropolis and the Parthenon. The Acropolis by definition meant the high point of the city state, and was on a plateau. Its raised status highlights its importance, thus radiating that importance onto nearby structures as well. Although the Greeks valued rational and reason, they also valued their emotional side as well. All plays were dedicated to the god of emotion – Dionysius. Much of what we know of the comedic aspects of Hellenic Greek theater productions comes from the plays of the playwright Aristophanes. Aristophanes’ plays express to the

Though both genres of theatre are closely tied to religion, Greek theatre and medieval drama have different religious motivations that impact the ways in which the theatrical event is utilized. In Greece, theatre was used to entertain or please the Gods, more specifically the God Dionysus, during the most important of the four Athenian festivals: the Great Dionysia. The first known Greek playwrights, such as Thespis and Euripides, were chosen to compete in the festival and submit three tragedies and one satyr play to be performed in front of approximately 15,000 spectators. In classical Greece, theatre was the center of citizenship and society; religious ideologies towards Dionysus were not only realized by performances, but strongly encouraged by the state. For example, if a citizen could not afford to attend the

The theatres were built on hillsides in the open air and could often hold more than 18,000 spectators.The oldest play still in existence is The Persians by Aeschylus from 472 BC. Aeschylus wrote at least 90 plays, but only 7 have survived the ravages of time.

The theater of Epidaurus was first formed in Ancient Greece around the year 340 BC. This piece of architecture was used for many celebrations including the God that it was named after. The theater was created for entertainment and to celebrate the God Dionysos. Polykleitos the Younger first built the Theater of Epidaurus. This theater could seat up to fourteen thousand people, before then the number that could be seated was only six thousand. The theater was a great way to bring people together under celebration and entertainment. The relation of the importance of the Greek theatre and the society.

The Greek invented the idea, or concept, of theater in the 6th century B.C. The first known formal theater was built in Athens between 550 and 534 B.C., although the oldest theater in the world is in the palace at Knossos in the northern Crete. The Ancient Greek’s way of theater and its many accomplishments greatly influenced the modern day theater and entertainment. Staring with the evolution of theater and how it evolved from religious groups in ancient Greece. There were also many great playwrights, such as Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, who opened the doors to a world of art. Even the construction of a play and the major types of plays, such as tragedy and comedy, are still used to this day. The way the

Many aspects of ancient Greek theaters have long been studied and debated. Much of the information about these theaters is based on speculation due to the fact that so little of them still exist today. This lack of remnants especially applies to the architecture of the early Greek Theaters. However, through archeological finds and years of studying the people, the plays, and the architecture of the time, we are able to make many conclusions about these early structures.

The setting of a theatre almost always consisted of stadium style seating with the acts at the bottom and in the middle. Most plays were open to the public and people were allowed to sit wherever they wanted. However, important officials and officers usually sat near the front. Their seats were usually made out of stone to show high status, and the rest were made out of wood. Like many theatres today, these consisted of the left and right wings, the main floor, a backdrop which was more or less a curtain, and an orchestra section.

Epidaurus is not the oldest Greek theatre site, but it is one of the best preserved and best proportioned of the theatres today. It supplies a good example to the public of what a Greek performance space should be. Because of the acoustics and the overall shape of the theatre the audience was not only very aware of the actors, but also of themselves and their reactions. On top of that the performances took place duringvenge r faces t also of thf three parts ware of everyone'of her plans to kill her children as revenge r faces t also of thduring broad daylight, so in consequence not only could you hear others but also see

In Ancient Greece religion and theater went hand in hand. The Greeks developed religion that was based on worship of many Gods. In honor of the Gods there were festivals with dancing, music, and theatrical performances. During the festivals the whole city would come to a complete stand still. All businesses were closed, politics were put on the back burner, and wars were halted. All social classes were welcome to come to the festival, and they all did. One of the most famous religious festivals is the City Dionysia, a festival in honor of the god Dionysus, god of wine, revelry, and fertility. The festival was held in ancient Athens, in March for five days, featuring dramatic competitions. These dramatic competitions consisted of dithyrambs, tragedies, comedies, and satyr plays. The tragedy competition was four plays per playwright, three tragedies and one satyr play. There were two processions; the first was carrying the statue of Dionysus from the temple to the theater of Dionysus at the foot of the Acropolis. The second were the patrons parading through the