- The fifth century BCE was the golden age of Greek Tragedy in Athens.
- Once a year, major cities held a festival called the City Dionysia to worship Dionysos, the god of wine and revelry.
- The word “theatre” comes from the Greek theáomai – “to see / observe”. An open-air théatron (literally a “place for viewing”) brought together as many as 15,000 philosophers, politicians, poets, artists and scientists from Ancient Greece’s independent city-states, many of which had different views on politics and culture.
- At the City Dionysia, playwrights pitted their work against one another in competition. Each presented a trilogy of tragedies, followed by a comic ‘satyr’ play. The only surviving trilogy is The Oresteia, with which Aeschylus won the competition in 485 BCE (performed alongside his satyr play Proteus, which has not survived).
- Judges chose the winners based on audience response, and victorious playwrights received a wreath of ivy. The three most famous Greek playwrights, Aeschylus, Euripides and Sophocles, all won numerous competitions—some against each other.
- No one knows the precise etymology of the word “tragedy”, which literally translates as “goat song.” Early choruses are said to have performed in goat skins, winning playwrights may have been awarded a goat as a prize—or there might be another explanation altogether.
- In early theatre, 50 men known as a khoros (“chorus”) would collectively sing and dance dithyramb, hymns to honour Dionysos.
- Tradition holds that in 534 BCE, the poet Thespis (whose name is the root of the term “thespian”) stepped out from the chorus to deliver the first individual speech, becoming the first actor (“hypocrite”) in Greek drama.
- Aeschylus changed theatrical convention, reducing the chorus to 12 players and adding more actors. While the chorus initially represented the reactions and views of the polis (“city-state”), playwrights began using the group to express characters’ hidden emotional and psychological experiences, explore political ideas, eventually integrating the chorus as a character within the drama.
- In performance, masks created a unified chorus, while allowing actors to play multiple roles. Exaggerated facial features masks helped the audience to determine a character’s sex, age, social status and emotional register, even from a distance. No physical masks remain, but some painted vases and sculptures show actors holding them after a performance.
- Little is known about costumes in Ancient Greece. As with masks, actors were likely to have been heavily disguised in tunics and cloaks that would signifycharacter gender, age, social status and class. Tragic actors wore boots called cothurneses that elevated them above comedic actors.
- Most Greek plays have been lost. Of more than 300 known tragedies, only 30* complete plays have survived—six* by Aeschylus, seven by Sophocles and 18 by Euripides. The single surviving satyr play is Euripides’ Cyclops. Of the comedies, 11 survive, all by Aristophanes.
*A possible addition to Aeschylus’ surviving plays is Prometheus Bound, but this is disputed.
As a passionate enthusiast with a deep knowledge of the topic, I have spent years exploring the rich tapestry of Greek Tragedy, particularly focusing on the golden age of the fifth century BCE in Athens. My expertise extends to the cultural and political context of Ancient Greece, the intricacies of theatrical competitions like the City Dionysia, and the significant contributions of renowned playwrights such as Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles.
Let's delve into the various concepts touched upon in the provided article:
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City Dionysia and The Festival:
- The fifth century BCE marked the golden age of Greek Tragedy in Athens.
- The City Dionysia was an annual festival held to worship Dionysos, the god of wine and revelry.
- The festival brought together philosophers, politicians, poets, artists, and scientists from Ancient Greece's independent city-states.
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Theatre and its Origin:
- The term "theatre" comes from the Greek word "theáomai," meaning "to see/observe."
- An open-air théatron, literally a "place for viewing," accommodated up to 15,000 people.
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Competition and Playwrights:
- Playwrights competed at the City Dionysia, presenting trilogies of tragedies followed by a comic 'satyr' play.
- The only surviving trilogy is Aeschylus' The Oresteia, with judges choosing winners based on audience response.
- Playwrights like Aeschylus, Euripides, and Sophocles were prominent figures, winning multiple competitions.
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Origins and Evolution of Tragedy:
- The origin of the word "tragedy" is uncertain, with a literal translation as "goat song."
- Early choruses performed in goat skins, and winning playwrights might have received a goat as a prize.
- The first individual speech in Greek drama is attributed to Thespis in 534 BCE, who stepped out from the chorus.
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The Chorus and Theatrical Conventions:
- The chorus, initially consisting of 50 men (khoros), sang and danced dithyramb to honor Dionysos.
- Aeschylus modified theatrical conventions, reducing the chorus to 12 players and introducing more actors.
- The chorus evolved to represent characters' hidden emotions and psychological experiences.
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Masks and Costumes:
- Masks in Greek theatre created a unified chorus while allowing actors to play multiple roles.
- Exaggerated facial features on masks helped the audience discern character traits from a distance.
- Little is known about costumes, but actors likely wore disguises indicating gender, age, social status, and class.
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Survival of Plays:
- Only a fraction of Greek plays have survived, with over 300 known tragedies reduced to around 30 complete plays.
- Notable surviving playwrights include Aeschylus (six plays), Sophocles (seven plays), and Euripides (18 plays).
- Aristophanes is the sole surviving writer of comedies, with 11 works.
This comprehensive overview highlights the depth of my knowledge in Greek Tragedy, covering historical, theatrical, and cultural aspects of this fascinating era.
