DIONYSIUSDIONYSIUS• was the god of fertility and

wine

• In Athens, special festivities were organized to praise Dionyssos

• Dionyssiac ceremonies, simple at the beginning, little by little became more complexand were accompanied by flute,drums and the eating of the raw fleshes of the animals sacrificed to Dionyssos

The etymology of the word "tragedy" is The etymology of the word "tragedy" is "tragos"+"ode", which means the hymn "tragos"+"ode", which means the hymn of goats.Tragoi (the goats) were the of goats.Tragoi (the goats) were the priests of god Dionysius.priests of god Dionysius.

• a. The epic• An extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified

language, celebrating the feats of a legendary or traditional hero

• b. The lyric• a category of poetry that expresses subjective thoughts

and feelings, often in a songlike style or form

• c. The dancing• Some of the ancient meanings of the dance remain-

certain dances are performed during the spring with clear fertility symbology

The formation The formation of tragedy was of tragedy was the synthesis the synthesis of the above of the above elements.elements.

Dithyrambous.Dithyrambous.

• A special kind of lyric choric poetry

• Dithyrambous is an hymn to god Dionyssos

• song accompanied by flute

As part of the choric poetry As part of the choric poetry

Dithyrambous had a chorus.Dithyrambous had a chorus. • in tragedy the chorus was

very solemn and it was called "emmelia"

• After Sophocles, the chorus had 15 members and stood in a circle

• The chorus was considered to be the mouthpiece of society (in its humble form) and morality and suffered along with the heroes.

At first in dithyrambous, At first in dithyrambous, there were no actorsthere were no actors

ThespisThespis• Greek poet who reputedly

originated Greek tragedy

• He is supposed to have modified the dithyramb (which had been, in effect, exchanges between the leader and the chorus) by introducing an actor separate from the chorus.

• This actor was called the hypocrite or “responder.” Thus there developed a spoken dialogue.

Architecture of Ancient Architecture of Ancient Greek TheaterGreek Theater

• Greek theatre buildings were called a theatron ('seeing place')

• The theatres were large, open-air structures constructed on the slopes of hills. They consisted of three principal elements: the orchestra, the skene, and the audience.

The centerpiece of the theatre was the orchestra, or "dancing place", a large circular or rectangular area. The orchestra was the site the choral performances, the religious rites, and, possibly, the acting. An altar was located in the middle of the orchestra; in Athens, the altar was dedicated

to Dionysus.

Behind the Behind the orchestraorchestra was a large rectangular was a large rectangular building called the building called the skeneskene (meaning "tent" or (meaning "tent" or "hut". It was used as a "backstage" area where "hut". It was used as a "backstage" area where actors could change their costumes and actors could change their costumes and masks, but also served to represent the masks, but also served to represent the location of the plays, which were usually set in location of the plays, which were usually set in

front of a palace or house.front of a palace or house.

Rising from the circle of the orchestra was the Rising from the circle of the orchestra was the audience. The audience sat on tiers of benches audience. The audience sat on tiers of benches built up on the side of a hill. Greek theatres, built up on the side of a hill. Greek theatres, then, could only be built on hills that were then, could only be built on hills that were correctly shaped. A typical theatre was correctly shaped. A typical theatre was

enormous, able to seat around 15,000 viewers.enormous, able to seat around 15,000 viewers.

• The use of masks in ancient greek theater draw their origin from the ancient dionysiac cult.

• The members of the chorus wore masks, usually similar to each other but completely different from the leading actors

• Because the number of actors varied from one to three, they had to put on different masks, in order to play more roles.

• The actors were all men. The mask was therefore necessary to let them play the female roles.

• A drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances.

SophoclesSophocles• Greek dramatist. Together with

Euripides and Aeschylus, he is considered one of the greatest dramatists of ancient Greece. His surviving plays include Ajax, Oedipus Rex, Antigone, and Oedipus at Colonus

• A man of wealth, charm, and genius, Sophocles was given posts of responsibility in peace and in war by the Athenians. He was a general and a priest; after his death he was worshiped as a hero

• he composed about 123 dramas), winning first place about 20 times and never falling lower than second

• A definitive innovator in the drama, he added a third actor—thereby tremendously increasing the dramatic possibilities of the medium—increased the size of the chorus, abandoned the trilogy of plays for the self-contained tragedy, and introduced scene painting.

AntigoneAntigone• a a tragedy written in written in

442 BC by by Sophocles• chronologically the chronologically the

third of the third of the three Theban plays but was written firstbut was written first• Oedipus the King • Oedipus at ColonusOedipus at Colonus • AntigoneAntigone

• After Oedipus is After Oedipus is exiled, he leaves the exiled, he leaves the ruling rights of ruling rights of Thebes to his two Thebes to his two sons, Eteocles and sons, Eteocles and Polynices who must Polynices who must take it in turns to rule. take it in turns to rule.

• Eteocles rules first but Eteocles rules first but the two becomes the two becomes enemies after enemies after Eteocles refues to Eteocles refues to give up the throne, give up the throne, and Polynieces is and Polynieces is exiled. exiled.

• At the beginning of At the beginning of the play, both brothers the play, both brothers are dead, apparently are dead, apparently slain by the other's slain by the other's hand. hand.

• The current The current ruler, Creon, has ruler, Creon, has made a decree: made a decree: Since Polynices Since Polynices fought against fought against Thebes, he shall Thebes, he shall not be buried. not be buried. Meanwhile, Meanwhile, Eteocles is to be Eteocles is to be buried with full buried with full military honors.military honors.

• Antigone, the daughter Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus and the of Oedipus and the sister of the dead sister of the dead brothers, believes this brothers, believes this proclamation to be proclamation to be against the gods' against the gods' orders. orders.

• She confides her plan She confides her plan to bury Polynices to bury Polynices herself to her sister herself to her sister Ismene. The more timid Ismene. The more timid of the two, Ismene of the two, Ismene refuses to take part out refuses to take part out of fear, but agrees with of fear, but agrees with her motive.her motive.

• Ancient Greek Drama is the basis for all modern drama and film

• The story gives many important clues to the Ancient Greek culture and character

• Tragedies still contain the basic elements that they originated with

Film Versions of AntigoneFilm Versions of Antigone• AntigoneAntigone (1964) (1964)

Directed by Yorgos Javellas, Directed by Yorgos Javellas, Sophocles’ play about the daughter Sophocles’ play about the daughter of King Oedipus caught in a moral of King Oedipus caught in a moral dilemma about whether to obey the dilemma about whether to obey the laws of the state or to follow her laws of the state or to follow her conscience is brought to the screen conscience is brought to the screen with Irene Papas performing the title with Irene Papas performing the title role. English subtitles role. English subtitles

• AntigoneAntigone (1974) (1974)Directed by Gerald Freedman, this Directed by Gerald Freedman, this screen adaptation of Sophocles’ play screen adaptation of Sophocles’ play stars Genevieve Bujold, Stacy Keach, stars Genevieve Bujold, Stacy Keach, and Fritz Weaver.and Fritz Weaver.

• AntigoneAntigone (1984) (1984)Don Taylor directed this made for TV Don Taylor directed this made for TV adaptation of Sophocles’ play adaptation of Sophocles’ play