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Introduction to
Greek Drama
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Origin of Drama
ò Drama was developed by the ancient Greeks during
celebrations honoring Dionysus.
ò Dionysus is the god of the vine, which produces grapes for
wine. Wine was associated with resurrection and suffering.
ò With the inclusion of many choral songs, the early Greek
plays resembled what we call opera today.
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Festival of Dionysus
ò The Festival of Dionysus took place in Athens over the
course of five days in March or April.
ò During the first day, the Greeks held a procession honoring
Dionysus in which all citizens participated.
ò During three days of the festival, the actors performed three
tragedies and one satyr (satire) play. 3 tragedy playwrights
competed against each other.
ò Comedy plays were a separate competition and was usually
between 5 playwrights. Playwrights never wrote both comedy
and tragedy.
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Festival of Dionysus
ò The archon, a state official, selected three poets to compete
for the prizes in the tragedy division.
ò The choregus, a wealthy, prominent citizen of Athens, was
required by law to pay for the cost of training and costumes
for the chorus.
ò A jury of 10 citizens selected the winning poet
ò The playwright served as a sort of teacher, offering plays for
the ethical and moral improvement of his fellow citizens to
insure the spiritual survival of the community.
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The Greek Theatre
ò Theatron = area of seats for the audience hollowed out from
the hillside
ò Orchestra = large area in front of the stage where the chorus
sang and danced
ò Thymele = the altar centered in the orchestra used for
sacrifices to Dionysus
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for the chorus.
ò A jury of 10 citizens selected the winning poet
ò The playwright served as a sort of teacher, offering plays for
the ethical and moral improvement of his fellow citizens to
insure the spiritual survival of the community.
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The Greek Theatre
ò Theatron = area of seats for the audience hollowed out from
the hillside
ò Orchestra = large area in front of the stage where the chorus
sang and danced
ò Thymele = the altar centered in the orchestra used for
sacrifices to Dionysus
ò Parados = walled walkway used by the chorus to enter and
exit the stage
ò Pro-scenium = a long, low stage behind the orchestra
ò Skene = building that contained the actors’ dressing rooms
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The Greek Theatre
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Greek Theater
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Greek Theater
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Greek Theater
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Greeks’ Special Effects
ò There were no curtains, intermissions, lights, or
microphones.
ò Consequently, all scenes took place in daylight settings, all
scene changes had to be built into the actor’s dialogue, and
the chorus and actors had to have strong voices.
ò Deus ex machina (meaning: “god from the machine”) = type
of crane used for suspending figures who portrayed gods.
ò Eccylema = moveable or revolving platform.
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Greeks’ Special Effects
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The Actors
ò The Greek name for an actor was “hypocrite.”
ò As there were only 3 actors, they wore masks to play multiple
parts.
ò All actors were men, because it was considered undignified
for women to appear on stage
ò Actors wore padded costumes, wigs, and high-heeled boots
to make them taller and give them added dignity and power.
ò Actors had to be able to speak in poetic language and sing
using a loud and clear voice.
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The Actors
ò The Greek name for an actor was “hypocrite.”
ò As there were only 3 actors, they wore masks to play multiple
parts.
ò All actors were men, because it was considered undignified
for women to appear on stage
ò Actors wore padded costumes, wigs, and high-heeled boots
to make them taller and give them added dignity and power.
ò Actors had to be able to speak in poetic language and sing
using a loud and clear voice.
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The Chorus
ò The chorus was led by a conductor and consisted of singers
and dancers who moved and sang together, acting as one
character.
ò A Choral Ode was chanted or sung in unison.
ò Originally, they Chorus started out with 50 people, but
Sophocles fixed the number at 15.
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The Chorus
ò The playwright used the chorus and their songs to:
ò Add the beauty of song and dance.
ò Set the mood or express the main themes of the play by
commenting on the action.
ò Create a bridge between the actors and the audience.
ò Converse with and give advice to the actors.
ò Tell about events that have already happened in the past.
ò Foretell the future by interpreting the actions of the actors.
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The Stories
ò Originally, the stories were hymns and prayers honoring the
gods, especially Dionysus.
ò Over time, the content of the stories changed to legends of
Greek leaders and heroes.
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Tragedy
ò In a tragedy, the plot revealed what happened to a person
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The Stories
ò Originally, the stories were hymns and prayers honoring the
gods, especially Dionysus.
ò Over time, the content of the stories changed to legends of
Greek leaders and heroes.
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Tragedy
ò In a tragedy, the plot revealed what happened to a person
who went against the laws of the gods or who was too proud
ò This stems from the Greek belief that man was subject to the
whims of the gods and fate.
ò The root of Greek tragedy is that man can not avoid
suffering.
ò In nearly all tragedies, man’s biggest fault is excessive pride
– a mistaken belief that he could somehow avoid fate or the
will of the gods.
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Greek Tragic Hero
ò The Greek tragic hero had to be a man or woman capable of
great suffering
ò The tragic hero is brought to disaster by hamartia, or a single
flaw in a person’s character.
ò Need not change but “undergo a change in fortune”
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Hubris
ò Hubris is defined as excessive pride.
ò Hubris leaves leads to suffering and then to an
understanding (catharsis) of man’s place in the system of life.
ò Catharsis is an emotional release caused by an intense
emotional experience.
ò The purpose of a Greek tragedy is to learn a lesson through
the catastrophes that befall the characters on stage and to
understand that their misfortunes are a result of not following
the will of the Gods or trying to avoid their own destinies
because of hubris.
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Structure of a Greek Tragedy
1.  Prologue – the actors present the opening situation on stage
2.  Parados – the entering song and dance of the chorus
3.  Episodes – periods of more action by the actors
4.  Stasima/Stasimon – choral ode or song commenting on the
action
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emotional experience.
ò The purpose of a Greek tragedy is to learn a lesson through
the catastrophes that befall the characters on stage and to
understand that their misfortunes are a result of not following
the will of the Gods or trying to avoid their own destinies
because of hubris.
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Structure of a Greek Tragedy
1.  Prologue – the actors present the opening situation on stage
2.  Parados – the entering song and dance of the chorus
3.  Episodes – periods of more action by the actors
4.  Stasima/Stasimon – choral ode or song commenting on the
action
5.  Exodus – the last action of the play
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SOPHOCLES
ò Sophocles was born in Colonus, Greece in 497 BCE
ò He died in 406 BCE at approximately 90 years of age.
ò He Lived during the Golden Age of Greece
ò (The Golden Age of Greece was from approximately 800
BCE to 300 BCE)
ò He was a successful musician, athlete, and respected
playwright.
ò He was also active in social and political life.
ò He held several priesthoods, was imperial treasurer in 443
BCE, and a general in 440 BCE
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Sophocles as a Playwright
ò In the drama festivals of his day, Sophocles won the first
place prize for best play 24 times!
ò He wrote more than a hundred plays but only seven remain.
ò The most famous of his plays are: Oedipus Rex (the King),
Oedipus at Colonus, Antigone, and Electra.
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Sophocles’ Impact on Drama
ò Sophocles expanded the format of drama by adding a third
actor.
ò He increased the amount of dialogue within a play.
ò He decreased the importance of the chorus by fixing its
number at 15.
ò He invented painted scenery and added flute music in the
background of his plays.
ò He made each play of a trilogy stand by itself as a separate
story.
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ò He increased the amount of dialogue within a play.
ò He decreased the importance of the chorus by fixing its
number at 15.
ò He invented painted scenery and added flute music in the
background of his plays.
ò He made each play of a trilogy stand by itself as a separate
story.
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