Antigone Antigone IntroductionIntroduction

SophoclesSophocles

Born around 496 BCBorn around 496 BCFamily was well offFamily was well offAs a boy won prizes for wrestling As a boy won prizes for wrestling

and musicand musicStudied poetry, music, dancing, Studied poetry, music, dancing,

and gymnasticsand gymnastics

At 16, was chosen to lead the boysAt 16, was chosen to lead the boys’’ choruschorus

Founded a club for students of the Founded a club for students of the artsarts

Sophocles acted in and wrote his Sophocles acted in and wrote his own plays. He acted as a girl own plays. He acted as a girl because he had a weak voice. This because he had a weak voice. This is also the reason he stopped acting. is also the reason he stopped acting.

Sophocles served as general of Athens Sophocles served as general of Athens twice (supposedly due to the success of twice (supposedly due to the success of Antigone)Antigone)

He refused invitations from numerous He refused invitations from numerous Kings to go and live elsewhere.Kings to go and live elsewhere.

Had 2 sons by 2 marriagesHad 2 sons by 2 marriagesOne son brought a law suit against him One son brought a law suit against him

saying he had gone crazy and needed to saying he had gone crazy and needed to hand over his estate to his sons.hand over his estate to his sons.

He was extremely religious and let his He was extremely religious and let his house be used for services while a house be used for services while a temple was being built.temple was being built.

Wrote 123 plays and won 24 victories (96 Wrote 123 plays and won 24 victories (96 of his plays won first prize, as they were of his plays won first prize, as they were always produced in 4always produced in 4’’s)s)

Sophocles was an innovator:Sophocles was an innovator:Improved stage sceneryImproved stage sceneryReduced importance of the chorusReduced importance of the chorusAdded a third speaking actor to the traditional twoAdded a third speaking actor to the traditional two

Sophocles said he wrote men as Sophocles said he wrote men as they ought to be instead of the they ought to be instead of the way they really were.way they really were.

Only seven of his plays survive in Only seven of his plays survive in their entirety today.their entirety today.

Sophocles died in 406; he lived to Sophocles died in 406; he lived to be over 90 years old.be over 90 years old.

Classical PeriodClassical Period

500-400 B.C. 500-400 B.C.

Sophocles lived during the Classical PeriodSophocles lived during the Classical PeriodIt was a time of transition for GreeceIt was a time of transition for GreecePolitical and cultural events were changing Political and cultural events were changing

and shaping Athenian Culture.and shaping Athenian Culture.As a dramatist, Sophocles played an As a dramatist, Sophocles played an

important part in this creation of a important part in this creation of a civilization, which included looking civilization, which included looking backward to ancient traditions and the first backward to ancient traditions and the first epic poetry of Greece.epic poetry of Greece.

Greek burialsGreek burials

An elaborate funeral is the last An elaborate funeral is the last prerequisite of every Athenian.prerequisite of every Athenian.

The body is washed in perfumed water, The body is washed in perfumed water, clothed in white, a crown of leaves is clothed in white, a crown of leaves is placed on the head. placed on the head.

Greeks must have a prompt burial or Greeks must have a prompt burial or cremation.cremation.

After war, the victors are bound never to After war, the victors are bound never to push their vengeance so far as to refuse a push their vengeance so far as to refuse a ““burial truceburial truce”” to the defeated to the defeated

It is a doubly unlucky admiral who lets his It is a doubly unlucky admiral who lets his crews get drowned in a sea fight, without crews get drowned in a sea fight, without due effort to recover the corpses afterward due effort to recover the corpses afterward and to give them proper burial.and to give them proper burial.

A honey cake is placed in the deadA honey cake is placed in the dead’’s s hands.hands.

This was either a gift to the gods or a treat to trick This was either a gift to the gods or a treat to trick the dog the dog ““Cerberus,Cerberus,”” who guarded the entrance to who guarded the entrance to Hades. Hades.

The body is cremated in an open fire while all The body is cremated in an open fire while all relatives stand around and shout their farewells. relatives stand around and shout their farewells.

Greek TheaterGreek Theater

Attendance at a drama festival was Attendance at a drama festival was more than entertainment; it was more than entertainment; it was purging of the soul, a union with purging of the soul, a union with goodness and truth.goodness and truth.

Greek drama was based originally in Greek drama was based originally in festivals to worship the god Dionysusfestivals to worship the god Dionysus

Dionysus was the god of wine and Dionysus was the god of wine and fertilityfertility

The Greek theater was built in the The Greek theater was built in the open air and was generally quite large. open air and was generally quite large. Example: the Theater of Dionysus had Example: the Theater of Dionysus had more than 17,000 seatsmore than 17,000 seats

Theaters were usually hollowed out hill Theaters were usually hollowed out hill sidessides

Technical devices were used to imitate Technical devices were used to imitate lightening and thunder, painted lightening and thunder, painted sceneryscenery

CostumesCostumesCostumes were elaborate and Costumes were elaborate and

included wigs and make-upincluded wigs and make-upColors were used as symbols:Colors were used as symbols:

Green-mourningGreen-mourningRed-someone soliciting servicesRed-someone soliciting servicesPurple- royaltyPurple- royaltyTravelers wore hatsTravelers wore hatsThe tragic hero was set apart by gloves, The tragic hero was set apart by gloves,

body padding, and high heeled shoes to body padding, and high heeled shoes to add height and significance to the characteradd height and significance to the character

Since only three people were on stage at a Since only three people were on stage at a time, multiple masks made possible the time, multiple masks made possible the doubling of roles. doubling of roles.

ActorsActors

Actors had to be able to sing because Actors had to be able to sing because many lines were lyricalmany lines were lyrical

Actors had to join an actorActors had to join an actor’’s guild and s guild and were exempt from military service because were exempt from military service because of their importance in worshipping of their importance in worshipping Dionysus. Dionysus.

Because of their importance, they were Because of their importance, they were well respected and well paid.well respected and well paid.