Greek Theatre

Overview

Greek Gods

Antigone

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Overview of Greek Theatre• The land

• The myths

• The stage

The Land

• Greece has thousands of inhabited islands and dramatic mountain ranges

• Greece has a rich culture and history

• Democracy was founded in Greece

• Patriarchal (male dominated) society

• Philosophy, as a practice, began in Greece (Socrates, Plato, Aristotle)

The Land

Located in Europe in the Aegean Sea

The Land

Overview of Greek Theatre• The land

• The myths

• The stage

The Stage

The StageThree Main Portions of Greek Theatre:

Skene – Portion of stage where actors performed (included 1-3 doors in and out)

Orchestra – “Dancing Place” where chorus sang to the audience

Theatron – Seating for audience

The Stage

The Stage• Greek plays were performed during religious

ceremonies held in honor of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry (altars generally on stage)

• Banks would shut down for days, people would travel from all around to see the drama competitions—even prisoners were temporarily released to see the plays

• Tragedy means “goat song” (relates to Dionysian rituals)

Catharsis

• Plays were not seen as a form of entertainment but rather were regarded as highly religious experiences.

• They were “lessons” or warnings performed before the gods at an altar.

The Lessons Learned

• Man must never put himself above Divine Law ( the law of the gods)

• Man who put himself above the gods would bring about his own catastrophe (destruction)

• Hubris- the sin of arrogance, pride , stubborness ( putting one’s self before the gods) is a common flaw in greek tragedy .

• Hero is brought low and made aware that he is responsible for his own destruction because of a tragic flaw.

• Moral order is restored as a result of the catastrophe

• A sense of honor and dignity at the destruction of the hero and the innocent in his wake.

• The dignity of man is restored.• People leave the theatre having been “purged or

cleansed” intellectually and emotionally, being reminded how to live “the good life” and honor the gods.

The Stage

Functions of the Chorus

• Consisted of 5 or 6 people• All “sung” or “chanted” dialogue in unison

as “one voice” ( the voice of the people). • Represented the town elders.• Gives background information• Expresses public opinion about people

and events .• Provides interlude between scenes

indicating passage of time.

Chorus Continued

• Set the mood and comments on the significance of the events.

• Show You Tube Video “Antigone Chorus”

Structure of A Greek Tragedy

• Prologue • Parados• Episode 1• Staismon 1• Episode 2• Staismon 2• Episode 3• Staismon 3

• Episode 4• Staismon 4• Exodus

Where and how were the dramas performed?

…In an amphitheatre

…With a chorus who described most of the action.

…With masks

…With all the fighting and movement going on off stage.

….With tragedy first, then comedy later.

Major Greek Dramatists

Aeschylus 524 B.C. Seven Against Thebes

Sophocles 496 B.C. Antigone

Oedipus

Euripides 480 B.C. Medea

Dramatist Born Wrote

Sophocles’ Antigone

• Set in Thebes (a city in ancient Greece)• Antigone is the daughter of Oedipus and

Jocasta• Antigone’s brothers, Eteocles and

Polynices, took opposite sides in a war• Eteocles and Polynices killed each other in

battle• Antigone’s uncle, Creon, became king of

Thebes

Copy Only The Boxed Portion!

The Olympians Are the 12 Main Gods

Mount Olympus…

…Where the

Olympians lived.

Who are the Olympians?

Tem

pera

men

ts o

f th

e O

lym

pia

ns

Zeus

• King of gods• Heaven• Storms• Thunder• lightning

Hades

• Brother to Zeus and Poseidon

• King of the Underworld (Tartarus)

• Husband of Persphone

Apollo

• God of the sun• Music• Poetry• Fine arts• Medicine

Dionysus

• God of Wine• Partying (Revelry)

Athena

• Goddess of wisdom• Practical arts• War

Aphrodite

• Goddess of love and beauty

Artemis

• Goddess of hunting and the moon.

The EndThe End