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Ancient Greek Theater Basics Ancient Greek theater • 5th-century B.C.E. Athens, dramas were presented during festivals featuring dramatic contests • Most important festival honored god of wine, Dionysus Dionysus • Dionysus (in Greek Dionysos –Διόνυσος), the god of wine, represents not only the intoxicating power of wine, but also its social and beneficial influences. • Viewed as promoter of civilization, a lawgiver, and lover of peace, as well as the patrol deity of agriculture and the theatre. Dionysus • Also known as the Liberator, freeing one from one’s normal self, by madness, ecstasy, or wine. • Divine mission = create beautiful music on flute and bring end to care and worry Dionysus and followers • Satyr: –noun 1. Classical Mythology. one of a class of woodland deities, attendant on Bacchus, represented as part human, part horse, and sometimes part goat and noted for riotousness and lasciviousness. 2. a lascivious man; lecher • Maenad: –noun 1. Greek Mythology A woman member of the orgiastic cult of Dionysus. 2. A frenzied woman. [Latin Maenas, Maenad-, from Greek mainas, raving, madwoman, Maenad, from mainesthai, to be mad; see men1 in Indo-European roots.] Dionysus cult • The cult of Dionysos was at first spread to the people. Not popular w/nobles – god who let followers get drunk and what a “good man” should avoid. • But when the first tyrants seized power with the help of the masses, they made the cult of Dionysos a festival of all the city. • During classical period, festival of Dionysos becomes one of the official celebrations of the city-state. Ancient Greek theater • Contests held for comedy, tragedy, and the dithyramb, elaborate choral ode sung by a chorus of 50. • Dithyramb = precursor to the play, which is why the chorus often plays a large role in Greek theater Ancient Greek theater • Eventually, leader of chorus separated from group to carry on "conversation" with them in performance. • Leader became the first actor. • Aeschylus added second actor, relied on chorus to advance the action • Sophocles lessened the role of the chorus and added third actor, heightening the drama by allowing three actors to interact simultaneously • Euripides reduced the importance of the chorus so that they relayed only incidental information in his plays; he relied entirely on his actors to convey the action of the piece.