Greek Theatre

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Slide 1

Greek Theatre

Overview

Greek Gods

Antigone

Medea

Slide 2

Overview of Greek Theatre

The land

The myths

The stage

Slide 3

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)

Slide 4

The Land

Located in Europe in the Aegean Sea

Slide 5

The Land

Slide 6

Overview of Greek Theatre

The land

The myths

The stage

Slide 7

The Stage

Slide 8

The Stage

Three 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

Slide 9

The Stage

Slide 10

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)

Slide 11

The Stage

Slide 12

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.

Slide 13

Major Greek Dramatists

Slide 14

Sophocles’ Antigone

Set in Thebes (a city in ancient Greece)