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Greek Life
Background
Information for
Antigone
Political Climate
in Athens
Intellectual Inquiry
radical ideas
democracy
philosophy
arts & sciences
Religious Tradition
dictated thinking
controlled behavior
Gender Roles
Patriarchy
social system in which
men are regarded as
the authority within
family and society;
power & possessions
are passed on father
to son
Women’s Roles
limiting expectations
do not get involved in issues
do not meddle in politics
virtually no rights
domestic duties
bear children
manage household
direct household slaves
Importance of
Burial Rights
provide guidance to afterlife
prevent suffering of deceased
prevent haunting of family members
Funeral Traditions
Visual Display
family wealth, pride, and bonding
mourners in black
Payment of Charon
ferries souls across Styx
coin in mouth
Hades’ Judgement
evil to Tartarus
average to Asphodel
heroic and blessed to Elysium
Three Part Procedure
I: Laying Out of the Body (2 days)
washed, anointed, dressed
flowers and crown
mouth and eyes shut
(to prevent psyche—soul—from leaving the body)
II: Cart Procession to Tomb
men lead
women follow
III: Internment
men burry ashes or corpse with possessions
placement of grave marker
women return to prepare banquet
Stele: Grave Marker
marker for a
young girl
circa
445 B.C.E.
family
grave marker
circa 360 B.C.E.
deceased with
surviving father
and son
circa 340 B.C.E.
marker for a
devotee of Isis
circa 165 C.E.
(Rome)
* 317 B.C.E. Athens: elaborate stelai forbidden
Tending the Dead
Post Funeral Visitation
day 3
day 9
day 30
Periodic Rituals
monthly
annually
holidays
“Farewell & the Last Touch”
circa 400 B.C.
Greek Theater
Background
Information for
Antigone
Founders
of Drama
Athens
480 B.C.E.
greatest city/state
after Persian Wars
Patronage of Wealthy Citizens
provided costuming
paid for actors’ training
considered a public and religious duty
theater contributions tax exempt
Dionysian Festivals
Spring Season
open-air
natural lighting
Theater of Dionysus
Athens
Competition
4 to 5 days
(i.e. Lollapolooza)
official judges
awards ceremony
Theater of
Dionysus
Reserved
seating for
patron
gods &
goddesses
(empty seats)
Amphitheater Attendance
1500 spectators
prisoners released on bail
public business suspended
The Stage
facility
amphitheater
tents
skenes
temples
palaces
The Actors
First Plays
one actor only
Later
3 per playwrite
multiple roles
all male
elaborate masks
portray women
distinguish characters
5th Century BCE
as many as 3 actors
on stage at a time
Chorus & Choragos
Talented Amateurs
Choragos: spokesman
15 member chorus: Athenians
singers & dancers
engage in dialogue (not narrators)
Purpose
summarize
preview
community
viewpoint
Literary Terms
paraodos
chanted entrance song
paean
hymns sung to Apollo
ode
lyric poem marked by
exaltation of feeling
with varying line lengths
Greek Tragedy
Background
Information for
Antigone
Sophocles
496 to 406 BCE
123 plays
only 7 survive
Athenian Festival
first prize 18 times
highly popular
well respected
The Trilogy
Oedipus Rex
written second
429 B.C.E.
Oedipus at Colonus
written last
before his own death
circa 409 B.C.E.
Antigone
written first
441 B.C.E.
last chronologically
The Protagonist
Heroine
one of the earliest
in world literature
young: 12 to 15
fights patriarchy
Antigone
“against the family”
“opposed to”
“close to”
filial hyperbole
mention of pairs
Ismene responds
Greek Tragedy
Single Unified Action
complete & probably
of a certain magnitude
one character; two at most
language embellished
Human Error & Frailty
not vice or depravity
arouses reader’s emotion
pity
terror
may lead to death
Tragic Hero
High Position
conspicuous
wealth & power
good fortune
great potential
Human
both good & bad
pitied & feared
doomed to fail
punishment
outweighs misfortune
Tragic Flaw
Harmatia
“error of jugement”
Hubris
a common flaw
excessive pride
arrogance
Fate vs. Responsibility
Fate
preordained by prophecy
hero is doomed, not evil
Responsibility
choice
wrong decision
Ultimate Outcome
realize mistake
accept punishment
feel remorse
The End