A Greek Theater
• Altar-used for sacrifices to Dionysis
• Orchestra- circular acting area-66 ft in
diameter
• Theatron-the raked audience seating
• “seeing place”
• Parados-entrance
• Skene-used for scenery, prop, costume
storage, change room
• Outdoor amphitheaters with sun for lighting
• Built into hill for raked seating, facing a
scene of natural beauty
• 15,000-17,000 spectators
Greek theater at Delphi
Epidaurus Theater
Theater of Dionysis
Greek Precinct
Greek Special Effects
• Deus ex machina-crane, used to fly Gods
• Ekkyklema-platform with wheels, used to
roll out dead bodies-reveal a tableaux
Ekklyklema and Machina
Ekklyklema
How was Greek Theatre
performed?
Chorus
Chorus
• Consisted of 12-15 men in
tragedy
• 24 men in comedy
• functioned as one saying
lines in unison
• Left over from dithyramb
• Represented citizens of
city-state
• Audience related to chorus
• Sung and danced
• All wore same mask
• Function of Chorus:
give exposition
(background info), interact
with characters, comment
on action, give moral and
theme of play, describe
offstage action, raise
philosophical questions,
urge main characters to
show restraint
Costumes
• Ornate and elaborate tunics designed to
make characters appear large for tragedies.
• Everyday or over exaggerated clothing for
comedies.
Masks
Masks
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Covered whole head
Amplified voice
Detailed (hair)
Showed character
Made character easily recognizable
1 actor could play multiple roles
Showed emotion
Music
• flute-with tone like modern oboe or clarinet
• lyre, trumpet, percussion sometimes for
special effects
• flute player or playwright composed music
(unsure)
• to create mood (like scores to film)
Dance
• any expressive rhythmical movement
• perhaps moment by moment symbolic
gestures
• orchestra-meaning dancing place
Acting
• Impossible to know for sure
• Not realistic, due to masks and men playing
female roles and one actor playing multiple
• Lottery for best actors because it is
impossible to discern the quality of a play
with bad acting
• Dancelike movement and chanting
• Voice most important- not realistic but
emotional tone, beauty, and adaptability
The Greek Theater
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Altar
Orchestra
Theatron
Parados
Skene
Greek Performance
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Special effects-ekklyklema, mechane
Chorus-functional to plot
Masks
Costumes
Acting